Nobody wants to spend more money than they need to on anything. The tricky part, however, is recognizing where you’re spending too much money in the first place. One area in your house where you’re probably paying more than you need to is winter heating. Because people are accustomed to thinking of their heating bills as always high, they often don’t consider the many ways they might lower them.

Below are some suggestions for how to keep your heating costs more reasonable during the winter. Some of these tasks require professional assistance, and you can always rely on us.

• Tune-up the heater in the fall: Make sure that your furnace, heat pump, or other heating system is in good shape for the season by calling professionals to tune it up. This will not only help the system work all the way through the winter with minimal trouble, it’ll also remove the strain that leads to a heater working harder and draining extra power.
• Change the air filter regularly: If you use a furnace or heat pump for winter comfort, then you need to see that the system’s filter is changed for a clean one every 1 to 3 months. If you let the filter become clogged, the reduction in airflow will force the heater to consume more energy and jack up your bills.
• Upgrade old thermostats: Do you have a thermostat that’s more than 10 years old controlling your heating and cooling? Then you’re probably missing out on numerous ways to lower comfort costs. Upgrade to a digital programmable thermostat or an advanced “smart” thermostat and you will enjoy noticeable savings—and not just during winter.
• Check the insulation and improve it if necessary: The insulation in the walls and attic of your home is essential for trapping heat during winter. Letting too much heat escape means that your heater must run almost continuously through the season and will waste power. Call our specialists to see if your insulation needs improvement.

For all your home service needs in Durham, NC, rely on the professionals at Bud Matthews Services.