How many times this winter have you said “Ouch!” after opening and later paying your heating bill? That many, huh? Take heart, dear homeowner, you’re far from alone. Still, what could set you apart from the pack is what you do to bring down those costs without sacrificing any comfort.

As luck would have it, C&D Cooling & Heating has a few timely suggestions.

Add a Thermostat or Two

If your whole house is covered by one thermostat and not all rooms are being used at the same time, you’re wasting a whole lot of heat. By creating one or more additional zones, you can control the temperature one zone at a time which could add up to significant monthly savings.

Clean or Replace Your Filter

The simplest way to improve heating efficiency is to clean or replace your filter about once every eight weeks or so. Once you make that a habit, you’ll notice more than cost reductions. You also should notice less dust on your furniture and elsewhere, not to mention improved air quality. Your furnace will last longer, too.

Install One or More Ceiling Fans

Two-way ceiling fans are great devices for reducing home energy costs year-round. In the winter, each fan will send heat back down into your living area, meaning your furnace won’t have to generate as much heat to keep you warm. When summer arrives, reverse the fan’s rotation so cool air will be brought back up to where you need it, thus lightening the load of your AC system.

Window Coverings

Let the light shine in through sun-facing windows during the day to fill that space with nature’s own heat source, then close the window coverings at night to retain that heat for as long as possible.

Keep Heat from Escaping from Your Ducts

Your home’s airducts are a potential source of heat loss, especially if they are in uninsulated areas, such as the attic, basement or garage. Sealing them around the joints can help keep warm air from seeping out. You can use foil tape or mastic sealant to seal the ducts.

Rearrange Your Furniture

Give your living room and den a new aesthetic appeal simply by moving your furniture around. Doing so also can help improve airflow, partly by unblocking vents that now may be covered by the back of a sofa, chair, or TV.

Time for an Upgrade?

Another factor in climbing heating bills is the age and condition of your furnace. If it’s approaching or past 12 years old, chances are it’s heating at no better than 60% energy efficiency, which means the other 40% is wasted energy you’re paying for anyway. A new furnace can deliver up to 95% energy efficiency, and that means a big decrease in those heating bills.

To learn more and schedule a free in-home heating analysis and new system proposal, contact C&D today. We’re your local heating and cooling specialists for all seasons.