Short answer: Winter is coming, and it's time to start thinking about how you will winterize your homes and keep them warm in the chilly season. After all, it's not just the cold that can make winter a drag. The high energy bills that come with it are no fun, either! Framing your windows with heat retainers like weatherstripping, blinds, and heavy drapes or shades can drastically decrease heat loss in your home. Check the frame for air leaks and consider using energy star rated windows in large area rooms. The sun's warmth can also seep through these drapes or shades, further helping decrease the heating bill.
Learn about NV Energy rebates and incentives for energy-efficient HVAC equipment.
- Turn off lights when they’re not in use.
- Unplug electronics and things like game consoles when they aren’t being used. It’s tempting to leave appliances plugged in all the time. We don’t want to waste precious minutes waiting for them to be ready again when we need them later! However, this is wasting energy too.
- Turn down your smart thermostat by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in the evenings and early mornings. It won’t feel as warm, but it will keep you cozy while saving energy throughout the day.
- If your house is heated by gas or oil, use a programmable thermostat. Then your home won’t heat up unnecessarily while no one’s home or asleep at night. These devices are relatively inexpensive and easy to install yourself.
Winter HVAC Energy Saving Tips
The winter months can put a strain on your wallet, especially heating and cooling. However, there are methods, as simple as drawing shades on the sunny side of your house to allow sun heat in, that can save you money on energy during the winter! Insulating your water heater can be extremely beneficial during the cold months. Winter time is perfect for cozy fires, warm drinks, and curling up with a good book by the fireplace. However, no matter how much you love the cold weather, it's undeniable that it can be expensive to keep your home warm during winter. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to cut down on your energy bills allowing you to enjoy your favorite season without depleting your savings. A few changes in the way you manage your home, such as shielding windows against cold air leaks, can lead to significant savings. Here are five tips for saving money on winter heating costs:- Replace old windows with new ones.
- Insulate your attic or basement with fiberglass batts or rigid foam insulation. These materials will help keep heat in during the winter and cool air in during warmer months. In addition, insulation will help you save money in both seasons, warm and cold!
- Get an energy audit from an HVAC professional who can advise you on how to improve efficiency throughout your home, including:
- proper ventilation systems
- installation of programmable thermostats for each room in your house
Winter Is Here! It’s Time to Get Your HVAC System Ready for the Cold Months
Winter is coming, and it’s time to ensure your HVAC system, along with fireplaces and chimneys, are ready to withstand the cold. Follow these winter energy-saving tips, and you’ll be able to keep your home comfortable all season long without breaking the bank.- Change your air filter regularly. A dirty filter will make your system work harder, causing it to run longer than necessary. Cleaning or replacing your furnace filter every month will keep your system running efficiently and save you money on energy bills.
- Check for cold drafts in rooms where doors or windows are left open frequently during the day (like bathrooms). If there are any cold spots in these rooms, close them off with a door or window draft stopper until the weather warms up again next spring!
- If there are small cracks in windows or walls around doors that lead outside, use caulking or foam insulation strips to seal them up before winter hits so that heat doesn’t escape through those cracks during cold weather months ahead!
- Always ensure you have the right size of HVAC unit for your home. For example, don’t buy an eight-bedroom unit if you live in a two-bedroom house.
- Ensure all vents in your house are clear of dust and debris. Clean vents will help keep the air flowing smoothly through your system, which helps keep costs down.
- Keep your thermostat at 78 degrees Fahrenheit if you’re home and 55 degrees if you’re not.
- If you use a space heater for energy savings, remember that it can cause fires and carbon monoxide poisoning if you leave them unattended. Use them only when necessary, and always keep them away from flammable materials like curtains and furniture.
- Don’t forget to turn off all lights when you leave a room! This can add up to a lot of wasted energy throughout the day.
- Get an energy audit done by an energy expert so they can tell you what needs improvement in order for your home or office to be more efficient during the winter months ahead.
- Bundle up!
- Use a space heater only when necessary and turn it off when not in use. Space heaters are great at adding extra warmth to an entire room in just a few seconds. However, they can create energy loss if left running all day long, wasting money and increasing carbon emissions in the process. Instead, consider using them only when necessary, such as when someone is sick or pregnant (it helps keep their core temperature up) or if someone has been working outside all day long and needs a quick warm-up.
The Importance of Regular HVAC Maintenance by a Professional to Save Energy
Winter is coming. The weather outside is cold, and your utility bill will be high. How can you save money on energy during the winter? One of the most straightforward ways is regular HVAC maintenance by a professional. The pros at The Cooling Company are equipped to help you keep your HVAC system running smoothly and efficiently. An efficiently running HVAC system means:- less time and money spent on repairs
- less wear and tear on your equipment
- more savings for you
- Have your HVAC system regularly serviced by a professional. This will ensure that your unit is running efficiently and not leaking any cold or warm air.
- Don’t skimp on insulation, it can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year! If you’re renting or don’t own your home, call an expert in residential insulation services today!
- Consider using space heaters instead of turning up your furnace or A/C unit. Space heaters are much less expensive to run than traditional heating methods because they use less power than central heating systems do. They can also be used as supplemental heating sources in large rooms that might otherwise feel chilly if left unheated in winter months (such as living rooms or kitchens).
The Investment
Though it may seem counterintuitive, regular maintenance can actually save homeowners money in the long run! The reason is simple: by employing professionals, they are best placed to prepare your home for the colder months. They ensure your HVAC system is in good working order, including checking filters and other essential components before you turn up the heat. Consistent maintenance from an HVAC professional using an organized approach ensures that the system runs efficiently and at peak performance round the clock. This will decrease your utility bills during the winter and all year long. In addition, you can rest easy knowing that if anything goes wrong with the system, it will be fixed immediately, thus, no unpleasant surprises! Routine maintenance by an HVAC professional can also help to predict and therefore prevent problems at an early stage, averting costly repairs down the road. Investing in a maintenance plan essentially means you are less likely to spend your money in the future on unexpected repairs. If something goes wrong, an HVAC technician can quickly identify and resolve any issues, preventing them from escalating into bigger, more expensive problems later on. If you need regular HVAC system maintenance or want to learn more about how we can help keep your home comfortable all year round, then contact The Cooling Company. Trust us, this is a noteworthy ingredient of a comfortable home. We are committed to ensuring your home's temperature control systems run efficiently at all times.Related reading: For more energy-saving strategies, check out our guides on advanced HVAC energy savings tips, 10 easy energy-saving changes, and fall heating maintenance checklist.
Related service: Need heating help in Las Vegas? Explore our heating services and furnace repair services for Las Vegas homeowners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best winter thermostat setting for Las Vegas homes?
68°F when you are home and awake, 60 to 62°F when you sleep or leave for work. Each degree higher than 68°F adds roughly 3 to 5 percent to the heating bill. Winter lows in Henderson, Summerlin, and Enterprise typically sit between the high 30s and mid 40s°F, so a furnace or heat pump rarely runs hard at 68°F. A smart thermostat with a schedule handles the setbacks automatically. Pair it with an annual tune-up through heating maintenance.
How much does poor insulation cost Las Vegas homes in winter?
According to the US Department of Energy, a poorly insulated home costs up to 20 percent more in annual energy use. Las Vegas attics often sit at R-19 or below in homes built before 2005; current code calls for R-38. Upgrading attic insulation alone can save $300 to $500 a year on combined heating and cooling. Combine with weatherstripping doors and sealing attic bypasses for the full effect. Discuss heating upgrades through heating services.
Why does my furnace short-cycle in Las Vegas winters?
Common causes include an oversized furnace, a clogged filter, a dirty flame sensor, a failing limit switch, or a thermostat located in a hot spot. Short cycling wears the inducer motor and heat exchanger fast. A NATE-certified tech can read the gas pressure, test the flame sensor, and measure temperature rise across the heat exchanger to pin down the cause. Book a diagnostic on furnace repair before the next cold snap.
Does winter HVAC maintenance really save money in Las Vegas?
Yes. A fall heating tune-up in October usually pays back two to three times its cost over a single winter. The tech cleans the flame sensor, checks gas pressure, tests the inducer and blower amp draws, calibrates the thermostat, and confirms safe combustion. Heat exchangers cracks caught early prevent dangerous carbon-monoxide leaks. Skipping the tune-up is the leading reason we see no-heat calls in January at homes in Spring Valley and North Las Vegas. Schedule on heating maintenance.
Are space heaters cheaper than central heat in Las Vegas?
Only for heating one occupied room while the rest of the home is allowed to drop. An electric space heater costs roughly $0.15 to $0.20 per hour at NV Energy rates; running one in a small office while the central thermostat is set to 62°F can beat heating the whole 2,200-square-foot home to 70°F. Never use space heaters as the primary heat source overnight, and never leave one running unattended. For consistent comfort, a furnace tune-up on heating maintenance is the better long-term move.
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