8 Heating System Hacks to Keep You Warm This Winter

Though our winters don’t get too cold, your home still needs to feel cozy on chilly nights and mornings! While bumping up your thermostat is one way to warm up your house, it can lead to excessive energy costs.

To keep your heating bill down without sacrificing your comfort, our team will outline alternative ways to warm and weatherize your Tampa Bay home this winter. Ready? Let’s go! 

#1. Install a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats give you more control over your home’s temperature, so you don’t have to keep it at 68 degrees around the clock. We recommend keeping your house warmer while you are awake, then programming the thermostat to automatically lower the temperature during the nighttime or during times when you aren’t home.

Schedule the temperature to return to normal before you wake up or return home, so you aren’t stepping into a chilly house. For even more control, you can get a thermostat that lets you adjust the temperature from your phone even if you aren’t home.

#2. Make Sure Vents are Open and Not Blocked 

It is a myth that closing vents will save money by not heating unused rooms. Your home’s HVAC system was installed to heat or cool all of the rooms, so regardless of how many vents are open, the system will generate the same amount of hot air.

Fully closing your vents can cause your system to overwork, resulting in higher energy bills and damage over time. Partially closing vents can help pump air into the right areas, but we recommend leaving them at least 25% open.

You can also boost heating efficiency in your home by ensuring warm-air vents, radiators, and other heaters around your home aren’t blocked as well. Move any rush, curtains, or furniture that may be obstructing airflow.

#3. Add a Door Draft Stopper 

Cold air can easily find its way into your home via doorways, but draft guards can help. Often covered in fabric and weighted with sand, draft guards are placed in front of the door to prevent cold air from seeping in.

A draft stopper won’t eliminate the cool breeze that wafts in when you open the door, but it will help prevent drafts when the door is closed.

#4. Seal Your Windows 

Sealing your windows is another good move. Replace old caulking and add weatherstripping to keep drafts out and your home cozier.

If your windows are due for an upgrade, this is also a great time to swap them out for storm or insulated windows to help improve your home’s energy efficiency.

#5. Open the Curtains to Let the Light In

This house warming hack is super easy! Before you leave for the day, check the weather. If it is sunny, open the blinds and curtains to let the sun heat your home for free.

At night, close all the curtains to prevent cold air from seeping inside.

#6. Reverse Your Ceiling Fan 

This is an easy yet often overlooked hack. Your ceiling fan runs clockwise during the summer to pull warm air up and keep you cool, but fans can also be helpful to keep your house warm in the winter too.

Set your fans to run counterclockwise and they will help push warm air down to where you can feel it.

#7. Change your Air Filter

Changing your HVAC filter is an important year-round task, so don’t forget to change or clean your heater’s filter at least every 30-60 days during the winter months. This will help your heater run at peak efficiency and keep you warm all winter long.

#8. Bake Some Delicious Treats

If you’re feeling chilly, crank up the oven and bake some delicious cookies or treats. This will heat up your kitchen, and you’ll have some delicious treats to munch on, too!

Stay Cozy this Winter

Though we don’t get snow or freezing weather here in Tampa, you still might want to turn on the heat on chilly mornings or evenings. Make sure your heater is in proper working condition to warm up the upcoming winter days. That’s where our pros at Super Heat & Air come in!