If you are looking for a way to cut your heating costs before winter rolls in, lowering your heating load can do just that. Not only that, but when you are ready to upgrade your heating system, the improvements you have made to your home can help you save even more.
Your heating load refers to the amount of energy needed to properly warm your home. The more energy efficient your home is, the lower your heating load will be. When energy is allowed to escape from your home, you end up requiring more energy to meet your heating needs, and paying more on your heating costs.
Here are just a few of the areas where energy-draining air leaks are common:
- Attic doors
- Light switch plates
- Wiring
- Baseboards
- Mail slots
- Flooring edges
- Exterior caulking
- Cracks in the siding, mortar and foundation
- Window mounted air conditioners
- Windows
- Fireplace damper
- Pipes
Many of these can be improved through simple and affordable measures. Weatherstripping, when used properly, can prevent warm air from escaping your house and block cold air from getting in. Caulk can also be used to fill small gaps.
An energy evaluation is the most thorough way to find all the spots that your home is losing energy from. An HVAC specialist will perform a variety of tests to pinpoint problematic areas and offer you practical suggestions that can resolve them.
Reducing your heating load really helps out when you are in the market for a new heating system. It needs to be measured by an HVAC technician to determine the size of the heating system you need. Larger systems are more expensive so the lower you can get your load, the smaller the heating system you can purchase without sacrificing any comfort. This can save you a substantial amount of money on a large purchase.
To learn more about how reducing your heating load can help you save money, and for help with implementing energy-saving strategies, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today. We have proudly served the Charlotte Metro area since 1972.