While summer is finishing, winter is within view. One of the biggest expenses for any family is the thermostat. Of course we want to be comfortable, but cooling our homes in the summer and heating them in the winter can get quite expensive. Not to mention the impact this has on the planet. Heating and cooling are very costly. If you want to cut down the costs of your thermostat but donโt really want to sacrifice your comfort, there are some methods to get around this. Continue reading below for five ways to decrease your heating and cooling bill.
Insulate Your Home
One of the most important things you should do first is insulate your home. If your house isnโt properly insulated, you will lose heat and cold air through the walls. For example, if you have an attic you should definitely put in some proper insulation. Often your insulation needs to be replaced. Whether you live in Miami or Minneapolis, insulating your home will lead to less air that you want to keep in leaving the confines of the property. When youโre looking to decrease your bill, insulation is a good place to start.
Seal Your Windows & Doors
Similarly to insulation, itโs a great idea to seal the windows and doors. Air will leak out of the cracks in both the front door and all the windows leading to the outside. Putting in the extra money to seal these areas may be an investment at first, it will pay off over time as your bills go down. More air will be kept in and the air from the outside will be kept out. If you do whatever you can do to keep the heat and cool air in, you will have to use the thermostat less. You might think about it but dollars are leaving out the cracks in your home.
Put in a Fireplace
Another way to keep your house warm is to put in a fireplace. If you want to avoid using the heat during the winter, a fire in the house will do you a lot of good. You can sit in front of the fire and warm yourself and leave the thermostat off. It will do a pretty good job of heating the area where you sit and watch TV. The warmth will spread. Itโs not always necessary to turn on the heat if you are cold. Warming yourself with a fire and a blanket can help you cut down on these bills quite a bit.
Use Local HVAC Specialists
So often the companies who provide heating and air are servicing the whole country or a large region of the country. Finding the right provider who will offer localized heating and cooling will bring down the price. If you live just in the suburbs west of Austin, for example, a locally-run company like Dayton Services will even tell you when the most expensive time to run your heating and air is. When you need affordable heating and air conditioning for your family home, look no further than a small local provider.
Buy a Smart Thermostat
Another upgrade and investment to decrease your air and heating bills is to buy a smart thermostat. These technological thermostats provide the ability for you to turn off and on the thermostat from your phone. You can change the temperature of the property from anywhere. This makes it so you can turn on the thermostat from work when youโre on the way home to make it an optimal temperature when you arrive. Smart thermostats arenโt cheap, but in the end you wonโt just be saving a lot of money on your air and heating, you will be making a great investment that will help you decrease your bills.
Balancing staying comfortable and keeping your thermostat bills low is tough, but itโs entirely possible. If you are willing to make an investment in insulation, sealing, smart thermostats, or simply putting in the effort to find the right service provider will make all the difference. Mitigating your air and heat bill will not just keep more money in your pocket, it will help you lower your carbon footprint and impact on the planet. Thereโs no reason to settle on the expense. You can be comfortable and keep your bills down.
