(WKYT) – We’re now into November and temperatures are finally starting to get consistently cooler which means if you haven’t already, you’re probably about to turn on your heat for the winter. There are a few things you can do to maximize heating your home while also saving a couple bucks.
Jamason Welker, regional director with Bryant HVAC, said the work starts before you flip the switch.
“If you haven’t had a professional out that’s checked your heat before you get ready to turn it on for the first time, go through and change the filter,” said Welker.
Keep furniture off the vents, and change that filter at least once a month. Once the heat’s running, go easy on the thermostat. Lexington is primarily an electric market, which means heat pumps that use electric backup heat.
“But also what a lot of people don’t know is, is if you go over to the thermostat and turn it up by more than really two degrees, it will automatically go ahead and default to backup heat,” Welker said.
His advice: raise it one degree at a time. Smell something burning at first? Welker said it’s normal dust burning off and should clear in two to five minutes. If you see flames or smoke, that’s a different story. Sealing leaks helps too. Caulk drafty windows or cover them with plastic.
“It may cost you five or six bucks and 30 minutes of your life, but it can really go a long way with making sure that the warm air is keeping you warm,” Welker said.
Small steps that keep the heat in, and some money in your pocket.
One thing Welker said you can also do is set your ceiling fan to spin clockwise at a low speed. This pulls cooler air up from the floor and forces the warm air that naturally rises to the ceiling to move outwards and down along the walls.