How to Save Energy & Reduce Heating Costs in Fall & Winter

It’s the time of year for sweaters, hot drinks, and warming up by the fireplace. It’s also the time when we have our furnaces and heat turned on, but did you know doing that comes at a cost?

According to research, heating accounts for the most energy usage in a home in Canada by 61.6%. It’s all thanks to our cold climate in the fall and winter months. No wonder finding energy savings matters so much!

We’re happier knowing that our customers are staying safe and warm during the colder seasons, without going broke or wasting energy in the process. To help out, here are some tips on how to save energy and reduce your heating costs whenever it’s fall and winter.

1. Schedule a Furnace Inspection

According to one study, it can cost from $3000 to 55000 on average to own a furnace, including installation costs. That’s a lot of money going towards your heating source, and you don’t want that kind of money going to waste.

The last thing you want is for this system to break down when you need it the most. It’s always easiest to have professional help inspecting your furnace because you just never know if its current problems are related to a quick fix or if the system is in need of a total replacement. Also, fixing a furnace only to schedule further repairs two weeks later will only extend the problem of needing a new one installed as opposed to fixing the real problem, which is what a scheduled maintenance inspection can help you figure out.

It’s best to start this step now, as opposed to later, for a lot of reasons. Winter is one of the busiest times of the year for HVAC technicians, whereas in fall things are quieter. Fall provides us with plenty of opportunity for us to really take a look at your systems and catch problems before they even occur. It’s a win-win for your wallet at the end of the day!

2. Double-check Your Home’s Insulation

Did you know? According to Energy Star, it’s possible to save 15% of heating costs (or 11% of energy) by insulating the attic. Perhaps all those drafts sending chills down your spine could be coming directly from there, because you haven’t spent the time needed to inspect the insulation contained within?

Insulating your home will ensure that all drafts are not let in, and that not all the warmth you’re spending hard-earned money on is being let out. So, double check all doors and windows, and don’t forget about the attic this time.

3. Look into Smart Thermostats

New thermostats, such as Nest, have rolled out smarter thermostats in the past few years that can tell you how much energy you’re using up and even alert you if something is amiss. Other good thermostats to check out for smarter usage includes Ecobee, Bosch, and Honeywell to name a couple.

What makes these thermostats worth investing in is that not only can they automate when to turn the heating on and off, but also in Nest’s case, the thermostat can identify potential heating problems for you. That being said, if these thermostats aren’t installed properly in the first place, or you went and DIY’d it, that’s going to be the costliest for you going forward. If you really want to get a smart thermostat installed, ask a professional technician to get that done right for you. Rebates are available for some of these smarter thermostats as well if you’re struggling with the cost.

4. Lower Hot Water Costs

We understand that this tip sounds impossible to do, given this entire year’s circumstances and how we need to approach washing our hands, staying clean, and keeping everyone safe going forward. But it is possible to reduce your hot water usage regardless.

First, examine the thermostat of your water heater. Around this time of the year, it’s recommended to keep your water heater’s temperature at 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). That way, you can avoid growing harmful bacteria in the tank such as Legionella. This temperature will also allow you to retain your hot water for handwashing and laundry day without scalding yourself or your family. Any hotter than this recommendation and you can actually increase your expenses as opposed to lowering them.

If you’ve been following our second tip on double checking insulation, the water heater is an excellent place to start. By insulating the tank and the pipes, you’ll be keeping the heat where it belongs, and no heat will be lost while the water is en route from the tank to your taps.

Another tip? Switch from a tank water heater to a tankless one (if you can afford to). Tankless heaters are both smaller and environmentally friendlier than the tank kind, and for some homeowners can be the better financial solution. For more benefits on switching to tankless, you can check out our previous blog post, and if you’re convinced to get an installation, let our qualified technicians know.

5. Invest in some Upgrades

We’re not just talking about upgrading your furnace (although if it’s showing signs of wear and tear, such as those outlined in our previous article, or it’s getting old and keeps falling apart, then yes now’s a good time to upgrade!). We’re talking about several aspects of your home where warmth can accidentally be compromised.

The water heater, we’ve already talked about. But did you know your own front door and pipes can work against you if you’re not careful? Even investing in weather stripping for the front door can save some much-needed heat! And again, insulating the pipes goes a long way in preserving energy and the heat for your water.

Help is available if you want to invest in some upgrades, particularly if it’s your furnace in need of one. Again, rebates are a good place to start, but there is also SNAP financing, which you can read more about here, and here.

If you need even more tips on how to save on costs and heating this year, you can also refer to our blog post about heating expenses here.

Need some help putting these tips into action? You can start now by scheduling an inspection of your furnace. Call our technicians—we know how to get the job done and done well! At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.