Tips for Saving Money on Your Utility Bill

Fall brings beautiful colors, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, delicious food, and spending time with the ones you love. But it also brings up the age-old question: when should I switch from A/C to heat? We asked a local expert, Full Service Heating & Air Conditioning, to find out more and discover ways to save money on utilities in the winter.

The best time to make the switch from A/C to heat is when you feel comfortable with the temperatures in your home, according to Full Service Heating & Air. So you’ve turned the heat on, now what? Should I adjust the heat throughout the day or leave it the same? What about when I leave for work? Full Service recommends running your heat at a consistent temperature unless you will be away from home for six hours or more. Although lowering the temperature while you are away from home for more than six hours can save you money, lowering it too far will cost you more. “If you drop the temperature by more than five degrees, it will take longer to bring it back up to your preferred temperature, thus not saving you money,” says Jenny Gierach, owner of Full Service Heating and Air Conditioning.

How do I save money on my utilities in the winter? We want to know too! Full Service suggests installing a WiFi thermostat with motion detection because it will lower the temperature when no one is home and return to your preferred temperature when it detects someone is back home. If you have an LP furnace, they recommend prepaying for the season with your supplier and opting into an automatic refill schedule so you don’t run out of LP unexpectedly. If you have electric heat, Full Service suggests opening the blinds during the day to let in the sunlight and closing them at night to lock in the free heat. If you use natural gas to heat your home, they say you can set your thermostat up to five degrees below your normal setting to save money on your heating bill.

Now that we know when to switch from A/C to heat and how to save money on utilities in the winter, it is important to note that this advice works best when regularly maintaining your furnace. Full Service advises performing regular maintenance on your furnace like changing the filter and inspecting the area around it to ensure nothing is blocking the air registers. Being proactive about repairing or replacing your furnace can save you time and money, so it is important to know what to watch for and how to maintain your furnace. “Don’t wait until your old furnace fails because it can take up to a whole day to replace the furnace correctly. Due to the pandemic, we have also been experiencing manufacturing and shipping delays on equipment and parts,” Gierach says.

One final piece of advice— to prevent your pipes from freezing, open your cabinets under the sink and on outside walls, and keep your thermostat set to the same temperature when you are at home or away. Contact Full Service Heating & Air for your furnace needs!

If you are in need of a new furnace or other home repairs, leverage the value of your house with a home equity loan.  With fixed rates, a home equity loan is perfect for those who require a specific amount of money and want loan stability.