6 Tips for Keeping Heating Bills Low in Chapel Hill, NC

The heating season comes with an increase in your energy bill since your HVAC system is in regular use to keep your family warm. Fortunately, there are ways you can lower your energy during this period. Discover tips for keeping heating bills low in Chapel Hill, NC during cooler weather.

1. Schedule Maintenance Services

One of the reasons a heating system, such as a heat pump, consumes more energy is dirty condenser and evaporator coils. A condenser coil absorbs heat from the environment during the heating season and transfers it to the evaporator coil with the help of the refrigerant.

The evaporator coil releases this heat to your indoor air. Dirt and debris may coat these coils, interfering with their ability to absorb and release heat.

You can keep your coils clean by scheduling regular maintenance services. Besides cleaning your heat pump’s components, professional technicians will also lubricate moving parts, fix any leakages and inspect the thermostat to ensure it works efficiently. An efficient system consumes less energy.

2. Replace Outdated Heating Equipment

As your heating system advances in age, its parts become more worn out. As a result, it cannot keep up with your home’s temperature requirements. This causes the system to run continuously.

A system that runs without taking breaks inflates your energy bill. Consider replacing your heating system if it’s older than 10 years to enjoy more energy efficiency.

Before you install a new heating system, schedule an appointment with a technician to determine your home’s heating needs. This helps to avoid installing an undersized or oversized system.

Undersized systems may run constantly whereas oversized ones short cycle. In both situations, your energy bill will likely go up. That’s why it’s essential to install a correctly sized heat pump for your home.

3. Change Your Air Filter Often

Your air filter’s role is to keep your indoor air and system’s components clean. It achieves this by catching pollutants in your indoor air before the air goes into the heating system. Over time, the filter catches multiple contaminants, and they accumulate on it, blocking air from flowing freely into your heating system.

A clogged air filter causes your system to run constantly or short cycle. Continuous use inflates your energy bill; thus, it is vital to change your filter regularly.

4. Take Care of the Outdoor Component

If you are using a heat pump, the outdoor component absorbs heat from the environment. The unit needs unobstructed airflow to conduct this function efficiently.

Vegetation may grow around the component, obstructing airflow. Also, leaves may accumulate around this component, causing the same problem.

Outdoor obstructions cause the system to work hard to draw heat from the environment. The harder it works, the more energy it consumes.

Consider clearing any debris and leaves around the outdoor unit and uprooting any vegetation. However, leave the complex procedures, such as cleaning the outdoor coil, to professionals.

5. Fix Leaky Ductwork

When your system heats your indoor air, the blower sends this air into your ductwork. The ductwork relays this heated air to your living space.

Any openings in the ductwork may cause the heated air to escape, making your system work for longer hours to compensate for the lost air. Leaky ductwork also causes uneven temperature distribution in your home.

Contaminants may enter the ductwork through the openings and make their way into your living space, lowering indoor air quality. Therefore, it is essential to schedule an appointment with a technician to repair your ducts as soon as you suspect they’re leaking.

6. Use Your Ceiling Fan More

Hot air rises. Therefore, when the air comes into your living space from your heating system, most of it stays near the ceiling. Your ceiling fan can help distribute the heated air quickly in your home.

For the fan to do this, you need to set it so that the blades rotate in a clockwise direction. When your home warms up quickly, your HVAC system will operate for a shorter time, thus reducing energy consumption.

Call Airmakers Heating & Cooling, LLC for professional heating services. We will eliminate HVAC issues causing your system to consume more energy than usual.

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