LG Jordan has 12 tips to save energy and money

We have a lot to enjoy this time of year. The December holidays. New Year’s, and all the fun and football. Pie, cookies and cake. Holiday dinners. Spending time with family and friends.
But one thing none of us enjoy is the prospect of higher energy bills that can come with heating our North Carolina homes in the winter season.

12 HVAC Efficiency Tips

That’s why we’re giving you these 12 tips so you can enjoy your winter more, while paying less!

1. Have a tune-up done on your heating system. Annual maintenance not only helps save you money by making sure your heating system runs at peak efficiency, but it can also spot small problems before they become big repair bills. Annual maintenance may also be needed to keep your heating system’s warranty valid.
2. Stop drafts. Drafts can add around 15 percent to your heating costs. But a Saturday’s work and some caulk, weatherstripping and expanding foam can help seal up those drafts to keep the warm air in and the cold air outside where it belongs.
3. Use passive heating. Even if you don’t have solar panels, the sun can help with energy efficiency. Open the curtains or blinds during the day on windows that get direct sunlight to get passive heating indoors, which means your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home warm. Close them when the sun goes down so that heated air stays indoors.
4. Change your air filter. A dirty air filter makes your heating system work less efficiently and can damage moving parts. Air filters should be changed every three months, and more frequently if someone in your home has respiratory issues or if you have pets.
5. Reverse your ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are great at cooling your home in the summer, but did you know they can help keep your home warm in the winter? Just turn the direction of the ceiling fan so the blades go clockwise. That sends heated air up around the ceiling back down into the living space.
6. Move the furniture. You’re paying good money to heat your home. Make sure it’s getting into the room and isn’t trapped behind furniture or curtains, which makes your heating system work harder. Move furniture and curtains away from ducts and radiators to allow the heated air to circulate around the room.
7. Keep exhaust fans off as much as possible. Exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms can suck heated air out of your house. So only use them when you really have to, and use them only for a short while. To help do that, replace the fan switches with one that runs on a timer. The exhaust fans will then automatically shut off after a set time.
8. Increase insulation. More insulation = more savings. You can save up to 20 percent on your heating and cooling costs if your home is properly insulated. Follow the U.S. Department of Energy guidelines for how much insulation you need to add.
9. Add a humidifier. If your heated air is very dry, it’s not only uncomfortable, it can also damage furniture, wood flooring, wood trim, cabinets and electronics. Adding moisture with a whole-house humidifier not only protects those things, but gives you more comfortable warm air at a lower thermostat setting.
10. Be smart with your thermostat. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, this is an affordable way to be more efficient with your heating. You can program it so the heat is lower when you’re away at work or school, or when you’re sleeping. And then you can set it to turn on a little while before you get home so the house is warm when you return.
11. Put down some rugs. Hard surface flooring like wood can be pretty cold to walk on in the winter. Area rugs can make if feel warmer and more comfortable. Also, skip the bare feet and wear some warm slippers.
12. Add space heating. Propane space heaters can keep unheated, or inadequately heated, areas of your home warm. And you can easily turn them off when not using that space.

Keep your home warm with dependable propane delivery from LG Jordan all season long. Contact us to become a customer – and ask about our automatic propane delivery, too!