How to Stay Warm Without Breaking the Bank

When winter settles in, the need for warmth grows, and so does the heating bill. Staying comfortable during the cold months does not have to cost a fortune. A handful of practical steps can keep your home warm and your energy costs in check. If you live in Springdale or anywhere else in Northwest Arkansas, the furnace itself is a good place to start.

1. Get your furnace maintained before winter

One of the easiest ways to save on heating is to make sure the furnace runs efficiently. A professional furnace tune-up before the cold season starts means the system gets cleaned and inspected while you still have time. A well-maintained furnace uses less energy to heat your home, and that goes straight to your utility bill.

It is also the time to fix small things. A minor repair in October costs less in every way than an emergency in January. A technician can spot wear, dirty parts or a failing component before it turns into a no-heat call on the coldest night.

2. Use your thermostat on purpose

Small changes at the thermostat add up. A common approach is to set it to about 68 degrees when you are home and awake, then drop it to somewhere around 60 to 62 degrees at night or when nobody is home. Your furnace has less to do while you are asleep under blankets or out for the day.

A few tips that help:

• Keep the day setting lower and raise it only when you are home and awake.
• Consider a programmable thermostat, which can change the temperature on a schedule so you do not have to remember.
• Avoid big swings and constant fiddling. Pick a schedule and let it run.

If you have a heat pump, check with a technician before dropping the temperature a lot at night. Some systems bring on backup heat to climb back up, which can cost more than it saves.

3. Keep the heat you paid for inside

Insulation is the key to keeping your heat in the house. Make sure your home is well insulated, especially the attic and around the windows. Heat rises, and a thin layer of attic insulation lets a lot of it walk out the roof.

Sealing air leaks is cheap and helpful. Weatherstripping or caulk around doors and windows stops warm air escaping and cold air creeping in. When the warm air stays put, your furnace cycles less and works less, and the house feels more even.

More small things that help

• Change your furnace filter on schedule. A clogged filter restricts airflow and makes the system work harder.
• Open curtains on sunny days to let the sun warm the rooms, and close them at night to hold the heat in.
• Keep supply and return vents clear of furniture and rugs.
• Use a ceiling fan on its low, reverse setting if yours has one, so warm air is pushed down from the ceiling.
• Put a rug or two on bare floors in rooms that always feel cold.

Why small repairs matter

It is tempting to put off a repair when the furnace is still technically running. A furnace that makes a new noise, takes longer to warm the house or cycles on and off is telling you something. Addressing it early usually costs less than waiting for it to fail completely, and a furnace in good shape runs more efficiently for the rest of the season.

The cost side of the picture

There is a line to watch for with an older furnace. If repairs keep adding up, it is worth stepping back and looking at the whole picture. Our rule of thumb is that once a repair passes about 10% of the cost of a new, more efficient system, it is time to weigh your options. We will go through it with you honestly, and the decision is yours.

A simple plan for the season

• Schedule your furnace tune-up in the fall, before you need the heat.
• Set a thermostat schedule and stick with it.
• Check the attic insulation and seal the obvious leaks around doors and windows.
• Change the filter regularly through the winter.
• Call about small problems early.

Do these five things and you have covered most of what you can control. If you want help, call Osage Air at (479) 349-3502 to schedule furnace maintenance or repair anywhere in our service area. Our club membership includes that fall furnace tune-up, along with a spring AC visit, so it is taken care of every year.