The cooler months present a unique challenge to Charlotte area residents: planning for a potential emergency. However, it’s also important to consider your routine. We’ve come up with three tips for approaching heating this fall and winter that will maximize performance and save you money.

Economize

Keep track of how much time your home is unoccupied during the day. This is the time in which your heating system is still working to heat your home. In order to maximize efficiency, consider alternatives. We recommend a programmable thermostat, a useful device that allows you to accurately control your HVAC system’s hours of operation throughout the day. When your home is unoccupied, you may want to lower the minimum temperature accordingly. It doesn’t have to be a lot: even one or two degrees will put money in your pocket and ease your heating system’s workload. Many homeowners choose to relax the minimum setting further, allowing their programmable thermostat to restore their homes to the desired setting a half-hour to an hour before they arrive home.

As the colder months go hand-in-hand with holidays, many homeowners will travel, leaving their homes unoccupied for days. Remember to adjust your thermostat to account for your absence, as maintaining a higher temperature with no one home will result in wasted energy and needlessly high bills.

Protect

A great way to ease your furnace’s workload is to consider ways to better protect your home from the harsh weather. For example, weather-stripping your windows helps keep the cold at bay and takes pressure off your HVAC system. Other insulation techniques, whether you seal up gaps in an entryway or invest in new insulation overhead, can only help keep heat where it’s supposed to be—in your house.

Another great way to protect against the cold is to seek out and seal any potential entry points for cold weather. Open vents in your home are a great way for cold to sneak in uninvited, as are gaps around older windows and doors. Caulk up noticeable gaps and prevent the cold from slipping in, easing the burden on your heating system and saving you cash. Closing off infrequently occupied rooms in your house can also raise the efficiency of your home’s heating unit.

Maintain

Maintain your heating system to ensure it maximum performance. In most cases, this is as easy as adhering to your filter manufacturers recommended replacement schedule. Changing your filter regularly is an important preventative measure, easing the strain on your blower motor and reducing the chance of a problem in the coldest nights. It also provides an immediate money-saving boost, maximizing your heater’s efficiency and lowering your energy costs.

Perhaps the best option for maintaining your heating unit is to call in the experts from One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte for a thorough tune-up. Or, better yet, call us today at (704) 703-4220 or contact us online and ask about membership in our Comfort Club. Comfort Club members receive twice-yearly checkups, each providing key maintenance procedures on your equipment before its busiest months. Our customer-friendly technicians will provide you with a comprehensive report of their findings and expert advice for getting the most out of your HVAC system over the months ahead.

Remember, a proactive and preventative mindset will ensure the ongoing effectiveness and reliability of your heating system during the cold season, saving you money and preserving your peace of mind in the process.