Staying warm this winter doesn't have to mean cranking up the thermostat and paying huge monthly utility bills. You can reduce the amount of energy you use in your home by making a few simple changes.

How to Increase the Energy Efficiency of Your Home

• Dial down your thermostat. You can save up to three percent of your monthly heating bill by lowering your thermostat by just one degree. So instead of turning on the heater in your house, reach for a sweater and watch your savings add up. You can save even more money by using a programmable thermometer to reduce the temperature when you are sleeping in your warm bed or at work. 
• Don't heat areas that aren't insulated. Areas of your home like a mudroom, enclosed porch or attached garages do not usually have adequate insulation. Why are you wasting your cash fighting a losing battle to keep these spaces warm? Either forget about heating these areas or install more insulation to make them more efficient to heat. 
• Check filters on your furnace and replace them as necessary. A dirty filter on your furnace can reduce the amount of heat which reaches the rooms in your house and can make your furnace overwork. During the heating season, you should inspect your filters at least once a month. While you are at it, you can look at each of the heating vents in your home and ensure they are not blocked.

• Make sure your windows and doors are well sealed. Most homeowners don't realize that a leaky window or door can really suck the warm air right out of your house. The good news is that sealing drafty door or window is easy and inexpensive. Stop the wind from getting in from under your door with a door draft stopper and don't forget to install interior storm windows. Is a breeze still getting in? Try sealing any cracks around the rest of your door or windows by using weather stripping. 
• Use ceiling fans. Turning on your ceiling fan during the winter isn't as strange as it sounds as long as you use it the correct way. If you have a ceiling fan, try switching the direction of the fan to the clockwise setting and turn it on the lowest setting available. Since hot air rises, using a fan will help to push it back down and make the room feel warmer. 

Action Heating & Air Inc. is a locally owned and operated HVAC company which is proud to serve residents and business in Crescent Springs, KY, with a full range of heating and cooling services. Whether you need help with a new installation or maintaining and repairing an older unit, you can trust Action Heating & Air Inc. Please call 859-331-2641 to speak with a representative to get your for a free estimate today.