Whether you love winter or you hate the cold temperatures, there is no doubt that it is a beautiful season. Aside from the holiday decorations that can be seen from every street corner, images of snowy landscapes, icicles hanging from everywhere, and of course building snowmen and memories! Although we might not see snow too often in this area of Texas, envisioning these thoughts may bring a smile to your face. Regardless as to the amount of snow we receive, the temperatures still get quite cold and can cause your energy bill to increase substantially. We’re going to take a look at how to combat these costs with the right temperature and tools–keep reading for more information!
The Ideal Temperature
Certain electric companies might put out advertisements about how to save money by setting the temperature in your home to a crazy-low and uncomfortable temperature. It has even been recommended that people set their thermostats to 55 or 60 degrees–that’s insane!
Instead, try setting your heater to 68-72 degrees during the day if someone is home. At night, consider setting it just a couple degrees lower; if you can stand a colder house at night, by all means, freeze yourself out. Although we’re kidding, there is something to be said for setting your thermostat too low or turning it completely off. Should you turn your thermostat completely off during the day when you’re not there or set it extremely low and then decide to turn it up, the heater is going to have to work harder to provide the needed warmth. Basically, a heater provides the same volume of warmed air no matter the temperature. The colder your home is, the longer the heater will have to work to bring your house to temperature.
Update Your Thermostat
If you can’t stand the idea of setting the temperature in your home to a chilly 72 degrees or below, this next tip is for you! All thermostats are not created equal and older models are far from efficient! The older, mechanical models that we’re talking about are not programmable and must be turned on, off, or constantly set to a certain temperature to keep your home comfortable. There are also non-programmable digital thermostats that allow you to switch set a temperature designated to turn on the heater or AC.
Next, we have programmable thermostats that allow you to set the minimum and maximum temperatures while also allowing control over the times that the system functions. Finally, there are ‘smart’ thermostats. These powerhouse devices ‘learn’ your behavior as far as when the home is occupied, when it’s not, and when people are sleeping. They also give the ability to control your home’s heating and cooling system from your smartphone, anywhere in the world. They are quite a bit more expensive but offer features like energy reports so you know what to expect on your monthly bill and how you can make your home more efficient.
Defeating The Electric Company (or at Least Their Bills)
It seems as though fall and spring are the only two relatively comfortable times of year–and ‘comfortable’ is a debatable adjective. There are numerous ways to keep your electric bill low during the wintertime, but the easiest one is to find the temperature that works for your home. If you find 74 degrees to feel perfect in colder months, consider dropping that to 72 or 70 degrees. You can even gradually decrease the temperature so the change isn’t as noticeable. At night, take advantage of the fact that you will be wrapped up in blankets and set the thermostat a bit lower–68 is a great place to start (there are multiple benefits to sleeping in cooler temperatures!)
The entire point in finding an acceptable lower temperature is to keep your heater from running constantly. When your heater isn’t always on, you save money!
Call Morrow Mechanical Today, Not ToMorrow!
In order to get your home ready for cooler temperatures, consider giving Morrow Mechanical a call to schedule a heater tune-up. In addition to following the tips listed above, a tune-up will lessen the chances or a heating emergency or paying more for an inefficient system. We can also take a look at your air ducts, air filters, and ensure your home is safe and ready for the wintertime!
Do you have a cold weather tip that you swear by? Tell us about it in the comments!