In the past blogs we discussed ways to conserve energy in regards to your heating system and those tips were universally accepted as ways to reduce your energy bill while also keeping yourself comfortable. Today, however, we look to debunk four myths that are commonly associated with saving money on energy costs during the winter months.
Crank it up
Have you ever walked into your home and thought “what if I turn the thermostat to 80, will it heat my home up faster?” The answer is no! Your heating system doesn’t work that way. The result you will get if you do decide to crank it up will be higher energy bills and no time saved.
Turning Off Heat
Myth: Turning off the heat in your home during the day is the best way to conserve energy. Completely turning off the heat and letting the temperature drop and then reheating your living space could actually be more expensive than lowering the temperature of your home, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA.
Winterizing
Myth: You have to buy a lot of expensive materials and products to weatherize and insulate your home. False, use heavier blankets/sheets that you can put on your bed. What about windows? Applying heavy drapes can conserve warmth, but make sure they do not block any floor registers, radiators or baseboard heating units.
Closing Vents
In modern forced air heating systems, the pressure load is balanced throughout the house. Blocking or closing the vent will impact how the system inhales and exhales air. This can throw the system out of balance and cause it to have to work harder. Blocking/closing vents in certain rooms will make those rooms colder because heat moves from greater concentrations to lesser concentrations. The colder rooms will draw heat from other rooms in the house, making the whole house feel colder and causing you to raise the thermostat.
When researching other options on how to conserve energy this winter, do not take every tip or suggestion without further research. Examples being the four myths above as they are/were commonly associated with lowering energy costs while in fact they did the opposite. For more information about energy saving tips or to schedule an appointment to perform preventative maintenance, contact our office.
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