Wow, can anyone else believe it's almost Christmas? We have had a very mild season so far in the Charlotte area, but you can be assured cooler temps will be coming soon. Along with the cooler weather comes a heat pump or furnace in your home that runs more and more, which in turn is costing you money! Below we are going to give you some tips for making your home more efficient and in the process lower your power bill.
Don't pay to heat an empty house!
-This should be pretty self-explanatory but often people are in a hurry and just don't think about turning down the thermostat. When you leave to go out of town or even for work in the morning, turn that thermostat down! The energy consumed to bring your home's temperature back from 60 to 70 is minimal compared to constantly running at 70 degrees when no one's home.
Should we close our registers/vents in rooms not being used?
-This is a tricky question that you will see argued both ways. We don't recommend you closing any of your registers if you have a modern, properly designed duct system. By closing off the register, you will run the risk of reducing the proper air flow back to the unit. Also, back pressure can actually create an air foil back to the main trunk line and slow down air flow to all registers.
Turn off exhaust fans.
-Exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens can be great for expelling smells, smoke, etc. Unfortunately they also will expel your heat! They are fine to use, but just remember to cut them off when they are no longer needed.
Open doors inside the home to maximize air flow.
-By keeping your doors open inside, the air flow is maximized and your unit can operate more efficiently.
Hang a fan!
-Everyone knows a fan in the summer can cool you off, but what about the winter? Most all ceiling fans have a reverse switch. You can reverse the blades direction to push down and circulate the hot air trapped against the ceiling.
We hope these tips add some extra cash to your bank account! Contact MTB today for any of your heating, cooling and plumbing needs!