As chilly weather forces us indoors, our energy bills (and tempers) rise. You can go one of two ways when the cold weather closes in:
- Hope for the best and dial the thermostat down to ‘just-bearable’ to save money.
- Use the following five tips to reduce energy, lower costs, and live your best interior life.
1. Insulate copper pipes
You can do this yourself or get a professional to help you out — if it’s the DIY route, we recommend that you seek specialist advice before beginning.
Adding a layer of insulation to the outside of your copper pipes helps your system work more efficiently. This is because it prevents heat gain and sweating in suction lines and condensation from air leakage in cold lines. When your system’s capacity is at an optimum level and your HVAC vent covers can do their jobs with no constraints, you save on energy and money.
If you’re ready to insulate, check out HVAC Premium’s high-quality insulated piping.
2. Get magnetic HVAC vent covers
Magnetic HVAC vent covers that are cut-to-size act as better sealants for the front of your vents. They create an airtight seal over your registers and reduce the flow of forced air, redirecting the warmth to rooms that are used more.
For example, you can seal off the vents in a study area that’s not being used so that the warm air is distributed throughout the house.
Compared to their counterparts, magnetic HVAC vent covers are more affordable and contribute significantly to the overall performance of your HVAC system. During winter months, having magnetic vent covers to reduce energy consumption will reduce costs and keep your family comfortable.
Related:We explore how different HVAC vent covers and grilles affect a home’s temperature in this article.
3. Change your filters
There are no two ways about it: well-maintained, consistently replaced filters help your HVAC system run more efficiently. As the lungs of your HVAC system, filters remove pollutants/contaminants and help circulate clean, healthy air throughout your home.
But, if they’re blocked or lined with dirt, your system will strain to push air through the filters and HVAC vent covers. Even the smallest particles of dust can reduce airflow by 50%. To save on energy and costs during winter, we recommend changing your air filters every 30 days.
After high-quality filters that deliver on their promises? Look no further.
4. Choose adjustable louvers or deflectors
In winter, fitting adjustable louvers or deflectors to your HVAC vent covers is an effective way to reduce costs. This is because pointing air down in colder months creates a natural interior current that uses less energy. It also allows the heat to rise naturally for a warmer, more comfortable environment.
You can achieve this by fitting louvers to your aluminum grille or adding a deflector to your steel grille. This is more energy-efficient and cost-effective in the long-run as your HVAC system can circulate the air evenly, with less effort.
To see our adjustable louvers and deflectors in practice (among other high-quality supplies), check out this video.
5. Adjust your thermostat when out or sleeping
When it comes to your thermostat, a little planning goes a long way towards saving on costs during winter. Just dialing your thermostat up does not warm your home more quickly. Instead, your unit will circulate the same amount of air and work harder doing it, leading to higher energy costs.
When you’re home in winter, keep your thermostat at 68°F. When you’re out and about or turning in for the night, lower the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees for energy efficiency.
When in doubt, reach out
We hope these simple tips will contribute to some significant savings going forward. Whether it’s winter, summer, or somewhere in between, your HVAC system is continually working to create a comfortable, healthy environment for you and your loved ones to enjoy. To do its job properly, your system needs high-quality supplies and astute maintenance to ensure it’s always in top shape.
We’d like to help with that.
HVAC Premium is a team of trusted, experienced specialists with over 10 years in the industry and more than 5,000,000 happy customers. We also have the largest selection of HVAC supplies in the USA!
Browse our comprehensive catalog by downloading it here or chat to an HVAC Premium consultant for advice.
Want more information on keeping your home warm throughout the winter months? Download our new Cold Weather Prep eBook for more tips:
