The nights are getting cooler here in the Asheville area, and it’s time to start thinking about heating your home for the winter. Winter heating bills are no fun, though, and with the holidays just around the corner, you may be thinking about ways to cut costs. Over the years, we’ve discovered several foolproof ways to cut your home energy consumption, help the environment and reduce your utilities bills. Get started by trying one or more of these tips:

• Install a programmable thermostat. The thermostat itself doesn’t cost much, and it will save you money for years. With a programmable thermostat, you can automatically turn the heat down while you’re away in the day and have it come back on before you return so the house is nice and toasty when you walk in. You can also reduce your nighttime setting to save money while you sleep.
• Air dry your dishes. Your dishwasher continues to use energy after the dishes are clean by heat-drying each load. Allow your dishes to air dry and save money with every load.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater. If your thermostat is currently set higher than 120 degrees, you can lower it without sacrificing any hot water comfort. Don’t waste energy heating too-hot water.
• Install weatherstripping on windows and doors. Stop air leaks from allowing your heated air to escape by installing weatherstripping on your windows and doors. If you currently have weatherstripping in place, check it to see if it’s cracked and old. Weatherstripping deteriorates over time and needs to be maintained.
• Seal your chimney. When you forget to close the damper on your flue, heated indoor air escapes through your chimney. Always close the fireplace flue tightly when not in use, and seal any air leaks around your chimney with fire-resistant materials like sheet metal, sheetrock or furnace cement caulk.

By implementing a few of these ideas, you can reduce your energy consumption, lower your bills and enjoy a more comfortable home this winter. For more energy-saving help, contact the pros at Smoky Mountain Heating & Air. We serve homeowners throughout Asheville and surrounding areas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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