Services: Heating

The hot summer days are transitioning to cool autumn evenings and that change offers homeowners the seasonal reminder that it’s time to prepare for the cold winter weather.

“Heating and cooling account for more than half the energy used in a typical home, so maximizing your energy efficiency during the coldest months of the year can really add up in dollars saved,” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List (www.angieslist.com), the nation’s leading provider of consumer ratings on local service companies.

“Now, before the cold weather moves in, is the time when homeowners really need to take a look at weatherizing their homes so they are properly insulated, free of air leaks and their heating system is in good working order.”

Each year, Angie’s List talks to its highly rated industry professionals about the best ways for homeowners to save money on winter heating bills. And each year, these professionals remind us that the optimum time to have a heating system inspected is in the early fall, before the cold weather hits and the emergency calls start pouring in.

“We had an HVAC specialist tell us that 80 percent of his ‘no heat’ calls were simply the result of improper maintenance of the heating system,” Hicks said. “A routine inspection would eliminate these unnecessary emergency calls, which often end up costing homeowners twice as much as a routine call.”

There are even more financial incentives for homeowners to make sure they’re homes are energy efficient this winter. Federal tax credits for up to 30 percent of the cost of new energy efficient appliances are available to existing homeowners who purchase qualified ENERGY STAR heating and cooling systems, insulation, water heaters, and windows and doors. The U.S. Department of Energy also allocated $5 billion for its Weatherization Assistance Program in an effort to help lower income families make their homes more energy-efficient.

Angie’s List offers 5 no- or low-cost ways to save on your winter heating bills:

1.)     Dial it down (Cost: $0) You can save as much as 10 percent on heating costs by keeping your thermostat set at 65 degrees at least eight hours a day. A programmable thermostat, which can be found for as little as $20, can take care of the dialing for you. Going down to 65 degrees when you’re away or asleep means you won’t even feel the sacrifice – except in your wallet.

2.)     Open them up, close them up (Cost: $0): Keep blinds and curtains open on sunny days and close them at night to better insulate your windows. Don’t block heat registers and air returns with furniture, drapes or rugs.

3.)     Seal it up (Cost: About $20): One of the cheapest cost savings is caulking, sealing or weather-stripping drafts. Walk by windows and doors with a lit stick of incense. Drafts will pull the smoke that direction, showing you the drafts.

4.)     Swap it out (Cost: About $50/year): Check your furnace air filters every time you pay your gas or electricity bill and change them as needed, generally quarterly if you’re using quality filters. The cleaner the filter, the more efficient the furnace. Not changing the air filter regularly reduces airflow into the home and can create costly obstructions in the unit.

5.)     Cover it up or (Cost varies depending on need and climate): There’s no better time to add insulation than a cool fall. If you can see 2-by-4s in the attic, you need more insulation. The coldest climates may need up to 19 inches of insulation; warmer climates can get by with 15 inches. Check there, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors and crawl spaces. You may qualify for tax credits for your insulation efforts.

“If your furnace has been cranking out the heat for more than 10 years, you might want to consider investing in a new, more efficient heating system,” Hicks said. “It’s not a low upfront cost, but it will save you money in the long run, and some high efficiency models qualify for tax credits to help cut down those initial costs.”

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