3 Tips to Keep Winter Energy Bills Under Control

When the winter season hits in New Mexico, the temperatures can drop below freezing for days at a time. During the colder months, your household relies on its heating system to maintain a comfortable atmosphere, but this can really affect your budget. Follow these simple tips to reduce your energy bills without sacrificing home comfort.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

The first step to gaining better control over your heating costs is upgrading to a more advanced thermostat. Most modern HVAC systems have programmable thermostats, but if yours doesn’t have that, you certainly need one. Setting a heating and cooling schedule allows your HVAC system to operate at maximum efficiency as manually adjusting the temperature causes the unit to cycle on and off more frequently, which wastes energy.

If you want to take your savings to the next level, consider adding a smart thermostat. These units are connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network and include features designed to minimize energy waste. Some smart thermostats can make automatic adjustments and provide reports to help you see where you could trim your usage.

Maintain Your Furnace

If you’re not in the habit of having your furnace tuned up every fall, now is the time to get into that habit. A well-maintained heating system operates more efficiently than one that needs a tuneup. Another part of regular maintenance is changing your filter every month or two, which allows the air to flow smoothly through the system and remove any potential contaminants from the air you breathe.

Ensure Proper Airflow

Some people mistakenly believe that closing or blocking off the vents in rooms that aren’t being used can reduce energy waste. However, the opposite is often true as doing so can alter the flow of the system, resulting in blockages and pressure shifts that cause the system to make adjustments. Make sure your vents are open and clear to prevent airflow issues and ensure efficiency.

At Sun City Plumbing & Heating, our technicians can maintain your heating system to keep your energy bills under control.

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