The holidays are a fun time of the year, but they can be expensive. One way you can lower your holiday expenses is by managing your HVAC costs. Here are four ways that homeowners in Charlotte, North Carolina, can lower their holiday HVAC costs:
Tighten Your Home’s Thermal Envelope
One way of managing your HVAC system during the cooler temps is to make sure you have enough insulation in the right places. Insulate electrical outlets and even the attic. Find and seal any leaks in the house with caulking or weatherstripping. Areas that are known for leaks are doors, windows and pipes coming in from the outside. Even your fireplace lets cold air out if you don’t close the damper.
Upgrade to a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are especially helpful if you’re traveling during the holiday season. Obviously, there’s no point in heating an empty home. You can set the thermostat back 10 or 15 degrees while nobody’s home. With a smart thermostat, you can adjust your home’s temperature remotely.
Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance
Ensure your heating system is working properly by scheduling a professional HVAC maintenance check. A service technician will make sure your furnace is working efficiently. You should also change your air filters once a month, as a dirty or clogged filter will prevent proper airflow.
Take Advantage of Solar Heat Gain
On sunny afternoons, you can open the curtains to let the sunshine in for heat. At the end of the day, close the curtains to keep the heat in.
During the holidays, when you’re probably cooking up a storm, your oven and stove will produce excess heat. Therefore, you should turn down the thermostat. When you’re finished using the oven, leave the oven door open to take advantage of the extra heat.
There are a number of easy and inexpensive ways you can reduce your HVAC costs through the holidays. Let Bradham Brothers, Inc. ensure that an HVAC breakdown doesn’t interrupt your holiday season. Contact us at (704) 912-1456 to schedule a maintenance check today.
Image provided by Shutterstock
