Most likely you’ve heard about how energy efficiency can translate into lower bills. It’s true! More efficient heating systems along with other simple and inexpensive actions you can take in your home can make a real difference on your energy bill. Energy efficiency also benefits the environment, offering the level of comfort that a homeowner needs while their home consumes less energy and emits less carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, reducing the greenhouse effect. Professionals like Covenant Heating & Air Conditioning have the energy-efficient heating systems you need along with comprehensive service and maintenance plans where our qualified professionals perform specific procedures that protect your heating system’s components for peace of mind.

FIRST – SIMPLE & INEXPENSIVE ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

Leverage Heat from the Sun

• Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home. Close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
• It’s also important to plant deciduous trees on the south-facing side of your home in proximity to windows. They will let the light and warmth in the windows during the winter and will shade the windows in the summer.

Cover Drafty Windows

• Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape a clear plastic film to the inside of window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
• Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
• Research and install other window treatments and coverings that can improve energy efficiency.

Adjust Thermostat Temperature

• While home and awake, set the thermostat as low as is comfortable.
• While asleep or out of the house, turn the thermostat back to save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. A smart or programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature. But make sure the temperature is comfortable for pets!
• If you have a heat pump, maintain a moderate setting or use a programmable thermostat specially designed for use with heat pumps.

Find & Seal Leaks

• Seal air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
1. Learn how to detect air leaks.
2. Learn more about air sealing new and existing homes.
• Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
• Find out how to select and apply the appropriate caulk and weatherstripping.

Maintain Home Heating System

• Schedule routine service for home heating systems.
• Replace furnace and heat pump filters once a month or as needed. Learn more about maintaining furnaces or boilers and heat pumps.
• Regularly clean the flue vent of wood and pellet burning heaters and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure it is heating efficiently. Find other maintenance recommendations for wood- and pellet-burning appliances.

Reduce Heat Loss from Fireplaces

• Keep fireplace dampers closed unless a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
• When using a fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly (approximately 1 inch) and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
• If a fireplace is never used, plug and seal the chimney flue.
• Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
• Check the seal on fireplace flue dampers and keep them as snug as possible.
• Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.
• Add caulking around the fireplace hearth. Find out more techniques to improve your fireplace or wood-burning appliance's efficiency. Learn tips for safe and efficient fireplace installation and wood burning.

Lower Water Heating Costs

• Keep the temperature of water heaters to a warm setting (120°F). This will not only save energy, but it will also help avoid scalding.
• Find other ideas for energy-efficient water heating.

Lower Holiday Lighting Costs

• Use light-emitting diode (LED) holiday light strings to reduce the cost of decorating the home for the winter holidays.
• Learn about the advantages and potential cost savings of LED holiday light strings.
• Find manufacturers and brands of ENERGY STAR® certified decorative light strings.

If your heating system needs to be assessed to see if maintenance or a new system is needed for energy efficiency, contact us. We’re ready to take your questions and help. We service over 5,000 property owners in this area, providing peace of mind you can count on. Consult with the experts at Covenant Heating & Air Conditioning.