The biggest issue many people have with using their heat all winter is disappointment with either their comfort levels or their bills. Homeowners are either paying way too much to stay comfortable, or they’re staying a bit chilly to save money. They cannot seem to find the sweet spot. Our experts at Air Care Heating & Cooling are here to tell you that a sweet spot does exist. Even in Shawnee, KS, with its historically cold winters, you can dial in the comfort as well as the savings.
The idea is to create and maintain a warm, comfortable environment that doesn’t drive your monthly energy bills through the roof. You can do it with the six tips below.
1. Aim for the Magic Number During the Day
The U.S. Department of Energy suggests that the ideal winter thermostat setting while you are awake and at home is 68 degrees. Is this too low for you? When it’s very cold outside, it definitely seems like 68 isn’t warm enough. However, the idea here is to keep your home at this temperature throughout the chilly season. As soon as fall starts, begin dialing down to 68 degrees. When the winter chill settles in, you won’t notice much of a difference, even when it’s freezing outside.
This is a thermostat sweet spot because it doesn’t take a reliable heating system long to get the air to 68 degrees. Especially when you get an early start and the temperature is already hovering here. You will likely need to use your heater only half as much to maintain this temperature.
2. Lower Temperatures for Sleeping
For even more savings, dial your thermostat back to 60 before you go to sleep. Keep in mind that you’ll be bundled up in bed. You might even kick some of those covers off during the night. You have probably woken up a few times with your feet poking out and your arms and chest exposed because you got hot during the night.
Some people feel like they need that extra heat to be warm and cozy. If you’re one of them, put your thermostat on a timer to dial back 30 minutes to an hour after you lie down to sleep. You certainly won’t notice the decline in temp while you’re snoozing, but you’ll be saving a lot of energy every month. And since it’s only 8 degrees, kicking the temperature back up to 68 in the morning will take 10 minutes, tops.
3. Adjust Settings When the House Is Empty
If you’re not going to be at home, there’s no reason to keep your house too warm. You may not want the heat completely off, especially if you have house pets. However, dialing it back to the high 50s is a great way to ensure you’re conserving a lot of energy when you’re out of the house.
For some people, the biggest drawback of doing this is returning home to a chilly house. The workaround here is to simply turn your heater back up as soon as you arrive and take your time getting situated. You’re coming in from the cold, so you likely already have your coat and winter gear on. It will take a few minutes to heat back up to 68, so take your time shedding your outdoor clothes. This is how you save money.
4. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat
A smart thermostat can be programmed and controlled via an app. It can even learn your habits. You can start programming your heat well in advance. You won’t have to remember to turn to X setting at this time or to Y setting at that time. You can set an energy schedule that matches your lifestyle, covering:
- Wake up time
- Departure for work
- Return home
- Bedtime
This technology ensures that you never accidentally leave the heat blasting while you are out running errands or visiting family for the holidays.
5. Avoid Extreme Temperature Swings
Some people try to follow a few of these tips before and then panic when their house gets too cold. They then crank the heat up to 80 degrees, and their furnace starts running full blast. That makes a couple of things go badly. For starters, that huge energy increase basically stamps itself on your monthly bill. Your heater is screaming and using massive amounts of fuel or electricity. Second, this puts wear and tear on your heater.
You need to avoid those temperature swings. Sure, you might feel a little chilly, but you need to be patient while your heat climbs back up to a manageable temperature, like 68 degrees. You are not going to freeze inside your home when it’s only 52. It may feel chilly, but you’ll be back to normal in a few minutes, without having to do a big fuel dump with a heat blast. And you can put on an extra layer while you’re waiting.
6. Schedule a Winter Tune-up
Even the most efficient thermostat settings won’t help if your heating system is struggling to perform. Furnaces get clogged and worn down, and they end up inefficient. To ensure that your heater is working at its peak, you can call us in to do a quick tune-up. It’s best if you have us come in during the fall before the winter weather hits. We’re able to inspect, diagnose, and fix any potential issues with your furnace, HVAC, or heat pump. This ensures a winter of steady, reliable heat.
We make it easy to schedule a maintenance visit with us. You can even sign up for a maintenance plan to ensure that we show up before the chilly season arrives. Our professional technicians can service any make or model of popular heater. The end result is a heating system that runs far more efficiently. That alone will save you money on your monthly bills.
We Can Help You Solve Any Issues
Finding the right balance between comfort and savings is much easier when your equipment is in great shape. At Air Care Heating & Cooling, we’re a top service provider in the area. Our reliable HVAC services have been helping our community stay comfortable for a long time. We have over 40 years in business and over 22,000 satisfied clients, so we’re the only call you need to make when it comes to quality care. We offer the best in maintenance, repairs, and replacements for your heating and cooling systems. If you are interested in upgrading to a smart thermostat or need a professional tune-up for your heating system, our team is ready to assist.
Contact Air Care Heating & Cooling right now, and we’ll get started on cutting back on your monthly energy expenses in Shawnee, KS.
