It can be challenging to keep your home warm during the colder months while also keeping your utility costs affordable. And short of purchasing a brand new furnace that is more energy-efficient than your older model, you might not think you have many options to keep your home warm in the winter. But there are several affordable ways to stretch your winter heating dollars to stay warm and comfortable in your home.

Invest A Little To Save A Lot

The best way to save money on your heating bill is to ensure that your furnace operates at its peak. And the only way to do that is to schedule an annual furnace inspection. Your trusted HVAC pro will clean and tune-up your furnace to ensure you are getting all the comfort you can from your heating dollars. Think of the process much like taking your car or truck in for a tune-up. The service helps you get the most energy-efficiency possible. This is also the best way to discover small issues before they turn into significant problems. Making a tiny repair now can help to avoid more costly damage and the possibility of a day or night with no heat in your home.

Installing a programmable thermostat can also offer savings of about 20% on your heating cost. The program allows you to set a lower temperature when you are away from home or asleep. But the temperature remains warmer and comfortable when you are at home and awake. The change of only a few degrees might seem small. But when you calculate the number of hours that you are sleeping, at work, or running errands, you will find it is on average over 12 out of every 24 hours.

Smart Options That Are Free

Take a few minutes to look for the heating vents in each room of your home. If any of the vents are blocked by furniture, consider rearranging the room. Blocking the air from a heat register keeps the warm air from circulating throughout the room and increasing the temperature and your comfort.
If you have a ceiling fan, reverse the blades’ rotation to help balance the temperature of the air in the room. Warm air rises away from the part of the room where you are sitting. But when you reverse your ceiling fan, it will help create more balanced heating of the space. The temperature will not change, but you will feel more comfortable because the warm air is now down where you are sitting.

Even if you do not have solar panels on your home, you can take advantage of the warmth of the sun. Open curtains to allow the warmth of the sun to help heat your home during the day. But be sure to close the curtains as the sun moves away from the windows. This will help add an extra layer of insulation to retain the added heat in the evening. If you notice a draft even when the curtains are closed, consider getting insulated curtains or hanging a blanket over the curtain rod during extreme cold to insulate your living space better.

To schedule service for your furnace or to learn more about getting the most out of your heating budget, call (912) 549-1521 to speak to the pros at Thompson & Thompson Service Group. We offer very affordable furnace tune-ups and can provide you with additional tips to increase your comfort this winter. Our team can also help you select a programmable thermostat and install it to save up to 20% on your heating cost this year.