Keeping Energy Bills Low This Holiday Season

The holidays are an expensive time of year for everyone. Between travel, gifts, and hosting family, your budget is likely already stretched thin. You certainly don’t need an increase in your monthly energy bills due to an inefficient heating system. At Simmons Heating & Cooling, we understand that you want a comfortable home without financial stress. It is absolutely possible to have warmth and savings this winter. It starts with a little preparation and a few smart adjustments to help you manage your home’s heating.

Invest in Professional Heating Maintenance

The most important step you can take to keep your energy bills low is scheduling a professional heating tune-up before the winter hits. A heating system that has been maintained runs efficiently because its components are clean, lubricated, and properly calibrated. This prevents the unit from working harder in order to reach the temperature you set. This is a key factor in keeping your energy costs manageable. An annual tune-up is an investment that pays for itself in lower bills.

To ensure your system receives the care it needs, we offer a maintenance agreement. Having your heating system checked annually helps us identify and fix small issues before they become major repairs. Most importantly for your budget, it ensures your system is operating at peak efficiency throughout the holiday season.

Optimize Your Thermostat Settings

Using your thermostat effectively is a simple yet powerful way to reduce energy use. The key to successful thermostat management is to avoid paying to heat an empty house. If you are leaving for the holidays or running errands, turn the temperature down significantly. This is easy to manage if you have a programmable or smart thermostat, which can automate these changes for you.

Set the temperature lower when you are sleeping or when your home is vacant, and program it to rise just before you wake up or return home. Setting your thermostat back 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day can result in big savings on your heating costs. This strategic temperature management is one of the quickest ways to prevent your heating system from wasting energy.

Maximize Furnace Efficiency

Your furnace is the centerpiece of your heating system, and its efficiency impacts your monthly bills. To ensure it is running as efficiently as possible, you must keep up with regular air filter changes. A dirty air filter restricts airflow, forcing the furnace to work harder to pull air through. This wastes energy and can cause premature wear on the equipment.

We recommend you check your filter monthly, especially during periods of heavy use like the winter holidays, and replace it when it looks dirty. For any issues beyond routine filter changes, such as strange noises, inconsistent heating, or a failure to turn on, you need a professional to look at your unit. As a top furnace company in Chesapeake, VA, we are equipped to handle all your repair and service needs to ensure your system is running safely and at peak performance all season long.

Simple Changes to Save Energy

Beyond the professional performance of your HVAC system, there are small, inexpensive adjustments you can make around your home that can add up to big energy savings. These simple changes help to retain the heat your heating system generates, reducing the overall load on your furnace and cutting down on run time.

• Sealing air leaks around windows and doors with weather stripping and caulk
• Opening curtains and blinds during the day to allow natural sunlight in
• Closing the damper on your fireplace when it is not in use
• Using draft stoppers or rolled-up towels under exterior doors
• Keeping interior doors open to allow warm air to circulate
• Lowering the temperature on your water heater

The Best Service for Your Holiday Energy Savings

The holiday season should be a time of celebration and comfort, not a time to stress over high utility bills. Our team at Simmons Heating & Cooling is ready to help you prepare your home for winter to maintain a comfortable, energy-efficient environment. We offer a full range of heating services, including heating tune-ups, essential heating maintenance, and reliable furnace repair. We are the trusted HVAC contractor in the Chesapeake, VA, area, focused on providing dependable and budget-friendly solutions. We look forward to helping you enjoy the holidays with a system that runs smoothly and efficiently.

Contact Simmons Heating & Cooling today for more information.