Energy Efficiency Tips for the Winter Season

Heating Your Home

HEAT YOUR HOME EFFICIENTLY AND SAVE

If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to keep your house warm and cozy all winter – without spending extra on energy.

ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT AND TRY ZONE HEATING

Set your thermostat 3°C (5°F) lower while you’re asleep or away from home, and you’ll save up to six per cent on your heating bill during colder months

Use a programmable thermostat to adjust temperatures according to your schedule 

Install a thermostat with a zoning system to stop heating areas of your home that you aren’t using

Try do-it-yourself zone heating by closing doors and heating vents in unused rooms

IMPROVE AIR CIRCULATION

Keep curtains and furniture from blocking your heating vents

Vacuum dust and pet hair out of your warm air registers and cold air returns and make sure that the dampers in your warm air registers are open

Circulate heat throughout your house with electric ceiling fans

Keep your basement reasonably warm – the heat will rise to the rest of your house

Close your chimney damper when not using your fireplace 

LET THE SUN IN

Open blinds and curtains during the day to let the sun warm your home and close them at night to keep heat inside 

Upgrade Your Furnace

IS IT TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR FURNACE?

If you have an older inefficient furnace, or a furnace that needs frequent repairs, it may be time to consider an upgrade.

Today’s high-efficiency natural gas furnaces are up to 96 per cent efficient. That means replacing your furnace may be more cost-effective than repairing it.

An energy-efficient furnace can save you up to 25 per cent of your home-heating costs in one year. After seven years, you’ll have recovered the cost of replacing/upgrading your furnace!

Not only will you save on your monthly heating bill – you’ll also increase the value of your home. 

HOW EFFICIENT IS YOUR FURNACE?

Your furnace’s Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating tells you how efficient it is. This rating represents the percentage of energy that your furnace converts to usable heat.

AFUEs for gas furnaces range from 57 to 96 per cent. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient your furnace is – and the lower your heating bill. 

GET THE MOST HEAT FOR YOUR MONEY

If you’re not ready to upgrade, you can still increase your furnace’s efficiency by:

Having your furnace serviced annually 

Cleaning or replacing your furnace filters regularly, at least every three months and maybe more in a heavy heating season 

Using a programmable thermostat so that the heat is turned down when you’re sleeping or when you’re not home

 

Visit Endbridge website for more information:

www.enbridgegas.com

There’s a lot to consider when you’re looking to purchase or repair your HVAC system. Let us know if you have any questions by contacting us or make an appointment with one of our HVAC technicians today!