As a homeowner in Raleigh, NC, your heating costs can account for up to 29% of your overall utility bills. However, you can save money on your heating bills by taking proactive steps, such as maintaining and upgrading your heating system. The best approach is to combine proper HVAC maintenance and energy-efficient upgrades with other whole-house measures to save up to 30% on your heating costs. This guide explains how to achieve the most energy efficiency while heating your home in Raleigh.
Consider Energy-Efficient Heating System Upgrades
You can achieve greater energy efficiency and cost savings when you upgrade to a modern heating system. New systems have higher energy efficiency standards than older models. What works best for your home will also depend on your space requirements. Some of the most energy-efficient heating systems to consider include:
Heat Pump
A heat pump is an alternative to a furnace and air conditioning system that works in all climates, including North Carolina’s moderate climate. It extracts heat from the outdoors into your home during the winter and moves heat from inside your home to the outdoors during the summer. Since heat pumps transfer heat rather than generate it, they are much more energy-efficient than furnaces and air conditioners.
Homeowners can choose from two main types of heat pumps: air-source or geothermal models. Air-source heat pumps are the most common. They transfer heat from the air outside your home to heat your home during the winter and can use up to 75% less electricity than electric furnaces or baseboards. Heat pumps can help homeowners save 30% or more on their utility bills throughout the year.
Geothermal heat pumps are less common than air-source models because of their higher installation costs. These systems transfer heat from the ground into your home to heat it during the winter and transfer heat from your home to the ground to cool it during the summer. Geothermal heat pumps can provide as much as 61% greater energy efficiency than other models, and the exterior components can last for 50 years or more.
Gas Furnace
Most homeowners use central furnaces to heat their homes. These furnaces blow heated air through ducts to distribute it throughout the home. They are powered by oil, natural gas, or electricity.
Gas furnaces require less energy to heat similarly sized homes than electric furnaces, and they can heat your home faster. Electric furnaces use a series of coils to heat your home. Gas furnaces mix fuel with air and burn it, producing hot air that is distributed through the heat exchanger with the air handler fan and forced through the ductwork.
Electricity costs also tend to be higher than natural gas costs. This is another reason to consider a gas furnace instead of an electric heating system: to enjoy lower heating bills.
Ductless System
If your home doesn’t have ductwork, consider a ductless heating system. These consist of wall-mounted units that can be painted to match your décor and color scheme. They do not require significant home modifications and use a small hole to attach the indoor unit to the outdoor unit. Ductless systems allow you to use single—and multi-zone units to maintain your desired temperature. You can also benefit from heating only the rooms you use most of the time while leaving less-used rooms unheated.
Packaged Heating System
A packaged system provides heating and cooling in one cabinet and is compact enough to fit into a utility closet. It may be an ideal choice if you have limited space. Depending on your fuel source, these systems are powered by electricity or gas. Some systems offer a dual option for greater efficiency.
Smart Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat can help increase your home’s energy efficiency year-round. These thermostats allow you to program your heating system to turn on before you come home from work or school and adjust the temperature down while you are away or asleep. Smart thermostats also learn your family’s energy usage patterns and can adjust themselves accordingly. A great benefit of a smart thermostat is your ability to control your home’s heating system with your smartphone from anywhere.
Take Proactive Steps To Increase Heating Efficiency
You can take several proactive steps to increase your home’s energy efficiency while staying warm and comfortable during the winter. These steps can complement your installation and use of an energy-efficient heating system to further drive cost savings.
Turn Your Thermostat Down
If you have a programmable thermostat and a conventional HVAC system, set your thermostat between 68 and 70 degrees during the winter while you’re awake. When you plan to be away from home or will be sleeping, set the temperature even lower to around 62 to 65 degrees.
If you have a heat pump, you won’t need to reduce the temperature when you are away from home or asleep. These highly efficient systems can simply be set to your preferred temperature. However, to save the most, ensure you choose a reasonable temperature setting.
Change or Clean Filters
Your furnace should have a recommended schedule for cleaning or replacing filters. Follow this schedule, or replace or clean your furnace filters once a month. Replacing or cleaning your furnace filters helps prevent blockages from interfering with airflow from your vents and heat registers. Annual professional heating services to maintain your furnace or other system is also essential for keeping it as efficient as possible.
Remove Blockages
Check your heating vents and registers to ensure they aren’t blocked by drapes, carpets, or furniture. Clean them as necessary to keep the air flowing.
Add Insulation
Have a professional inspect the insulation in your attic. Adding insulation can help increase your home’s energy efficiency if it’s thin or damaged. You might also consider adding blown-in insulation to uninsulated walls to prevent warm indoor air from leaking during winter.
Weatherize Your Home
Before it gets cold outside, carefully inspect your home to check for small cracks or openings around your windows and doors. Apply caulk in these small crevices to keep the cold air out. Caulk around your windows if the existing caulk is cracked.
Leverage the Sun
If you have south-facing windows, you can use the sun to help heat your home. Keep your shades and drapes open during the day to let sunlight in, and close them at night to keep the cold out. Sunlight can passively heat your home by absorption into the walls and floors, so your heating system won’t need to work as hard during the day.
Talk to Our HVAC Professionals
Achieving greater energy efficiency while heating your home can lower utility bills and ensure your family’s comfort. Our professionals at Dawson's Electric & Air in Raleigh have served area residents since 2005 and also offer electrical and cooling services. Our team of HVAC technicians and electricians can handle everything from air conditioner and heating repairs to maintenance and installation, along with general electrical repairs and installations for electrical panels, GFCI outlets, EV charging station surge protection, indoor and outdoor lighting, rewiring, wiring, and whole-home generators.
Contact us at Dawson's Electric & Air in Raleigh today to learn how we can help you achieve greater energy efficiency in the winter or schedule your service.
