Buford, GA (PRWEB) September 30, 2013
Keeping the heat on and the bill low does not have to be a contradiction in terms. There are a number of inexpensive and relatively easy ways to help improve the energy efficient of your home this winter.
As a licensed plumber and HVAC company in Georgia, Paramount Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling works with homeowners and businesses to improve their homes, fix problems, and improve upon what they already have. Before the winter, one of the best things you can do is have your heater checked out.
Yearly heater maintenance is an important step is helping keep the winter heating bills low. This will include changing out the filters, checking for air flow, and making sure everything is working properly. If there is a problem, it can be fixed beforehand rather than waiting for it to get worse and having to call for emergency heater repair in the middle of winter or possibly needing to replace a heater all together.
Also, if you have not had your ventilation systems cleaned in more than five years, it is probably a good idea to have it done now. This can help improve the air quality in your home, making it easier to breathe and helping to prevent colds and flus from spreading. If you have allergies, the vent cleaning can be a big bonus too.
It is important to remember your HVAC filters should be switched out every 6 to 12 months as well. It helps to spend a little more when buying new filters. The newer and more expensive filters will last longer and filter better. They have electrostatic filters and HEPA filters for your furnace that will help collect dust, bacteria, viruses and mold rather than spreading the contaminants through your home.
When it comes to setting the thermostat, look into getting a programmable thermostat. These are relatively inexpensive. Many can even be programmed from your smartphone or online now, too, so you can make changes even when you are not at home. These units allow you to set different temperature settings for different times of the day. This can be used to lower the temperature in the home while no one is around. Do not lower the temperature too much or turn off the heat completely, though, because the savings could easily be eaten up by trying to get the home comfortable again when everyone gets back. Typically lowering it by 5 or 10 degrees while no one is home or everyone is sleeping under the covers is a safe amount. Set the thermostat to go back to normal temperatures about half an hour before people get home or start getting up in the morning.