PRACTICAL TIPS AND HABITS FOR REDUCING HEATING COSTS IN OHIO
Ohio winters can range from heavy snow to plenty of rain, putting you in the frustrating position of constantly turning your heating on. Fortunately, reducing heating costs in Ohio is quite easy once you adopt a few practical habits.
Columbus Worthington Air has been helping Ohio homeowners stay warm and comfortable since 1936. Not only do we provide fast tune-ups and energy-efficient upgrades for heating systems, we share useful tips to help you save money throughout the year.
Think your heating system could use a check-up? Schedule a visit with our friendly team to spruce up your furnace before the snow hits.
5 Simple Habits and Tips That Reduce Your Heating Expenses
You don’t need to become an overnight heating expert to start saving money. There are several practical actions you can take on a daily or monthly basis to reduce strain on your heating system.
1. Be Strategic About Your Thermostat
If you want to keep your home at a consistently comfortable temperature, try setting your thermostat at around 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re home. Once night rolls around, lower the thermostat by a few degrees to lighten up your energy bill.
Since you’ll be bundled up in blankets while sleeping, you’ll already be doing some of the work to stay warm.
2. Change Your Furnace Filter Every Few Months
A dirty furnace filter makes the system work extra hard to warm your home, cranking up your energy bills and affecting its overall performance. You should replace or clean your filter every few months (or at least check it monthly during the winter).
3. Use Thick Curtains and South-Facing Blinds
Reducing heating costs in Ohio may include a new installation or two, but you’ll be glad you took the time to do it. Thick curtains are a great way to insulate your home at night, trapping cold air that may be seeping through your window cracks.
Opening south-facing blinds can also capture the warmth of the sun and spread it throughout your home, giving your furnace a much-needed break.
4. Close Fireplace Damper When You’re Not Using It
Your fireplace damper has a few important tasks, such as controlling smoke and maintaining steady ventilation. If you leave it open when it’s not in use, that’s valuable warm air that seeps out of your home.
5. Establish Mindful Habits Around Energy Consumption
Take a few minutes to review some of your most heat-generating activities. While this tip could take a little while to become second nature, it could leave a huge impact on your winter energy bill.
For starters, if you like really long showers, consider taking a shorter one once in a while. If you like to bake and cook a lot, consider using draft stoppers at nearby doors to trap the heat you generate. Once you get into the habit of trimming back on your heat usage, it’ll soon become second nature.
Essential Actions You Need to Take Before Winter Hits
Now that you have a few simple habits under your belt, it’s time to make the most out of professional heating resources. Columbus Worthington Air provides heating installation, tune-ups, and upgrades for Ohio homeowners who want to save money and stay comfortable.
Get a Home Energy Audit
Sometimes you have a heating issue sapping your money right from under your nose. A professional energy audit provides an in-depth look at all the different ways your home is using heat, then provides solutions.
A professional will visit to look at details such as insulation, duct leakage, equipment efficiency, and potential upgrades. They may use tools like a camera or a blower door to spot even the most hidden issues.
Seal Air Leaks
Reducing heating costs in Ohio isn’t just what you install: it’s also keeping the heat you already make. Air leaks frequently happen around windows, doors, floorboards, and attics.
You can start off by using window and door weatherstripping to seal air leaks. If your air leaks are particularly stubborn, you may need to reach out to a professional to improve issues like duct connections or attic hatches.
Add or Upgrade Insulation
When’s the last time you took a look at your attic’s air flow? Before winter hits, we recommend upgrading your insulation and sealing any gaps that might be letting warm air out. Gaps might be a sign of an insect or rodent infestation.
Use a Smart Thermostat
Do you sometimes forget to turn the thermostat off? A smart thermostat will take the work off your plate with simple features such as weekend/weekday scheduling and adaptive learning.
For example, if your home gets colder than usual, the thermostat will turn on and warm it back to a specified temperature. If it gets too warm, it’ll turn off for you.
Try Smart Lighting
While lighting costs aren’t nearly as high as heating costs, you can still trim your energy bill a little with smart lighting options. Occupancy sensors will turn on or off depending on whether someone is near, while a smart plug will let you control lighting through a phone app.
Using LED bulbs is another great way to save. They last much longer than incandescent bulbs while still providing bright, steady light.
Tune, Maintain, and Optimize Your Furnace
Last, but not least, make sure you hire professional help to check your furnace once per year. Even if your furnace is working well, annual maintenance ensures it’s always in peak condition.
Columbus Worthington Air provides maintenance and tune-ups to keep furnaces working without interruption. We’ll perform burner inspections, airflow checks, or filter replacements to help you save money and stay warm.
Want to double-check your furnace before winter? Contact our team for a quick tune-up.
Upgrade Your Exterior
It’s not just the inside of the home that benefits from home heating tips in Ohio. If you’re in the mood for a personal project, consider planting evergreen windbreaks around your home to protect against the winter wind.
You can also insulate exposed pipes to reduce the risk of freezing during a cold snap.
Consider a New Furnace Installation
Sometimes your furnace is just a little too old and worn out to help you reduce heating costs in Ohio. Furnaces usually have a lifespan of around 15 years, though we recommend looking into a new installation at the 10-year mark.
When you pair a new furnace installation with duct improvements or a smart thermostat, you can save even more money.
Lower Your Bills With Columbus Worthington Air
Enjoying energy savings in Columbus doesn't have to be tricky. After you implement a few energy-saving habits and reach out to one of our professionals, this winter could be your most comfortable yet.
We know you have a busy schedule that makes a new installation or tune-up difficult. Not only do we offer fast responses and emergency HVAC service, we also provide limited-time offers to help you budget.
No matter what you need, Columbus Worthington Air is dedicated to remaining your trusted local resource for long-term heating solutions.
Want an energy assessment? Schedule a visit with our experienced team to reduce heating costs in Ohio and improve your home just in time for winter.