Consume Less Energy This Winter

If you are a homeowner in Northwest Indiana or the south suburbs of Chicago, you know that you will experience four seasons — winter, spring, summer, and fall. Each season has its way to use the energy in your home, and in winter you will use your furnace most. The first few days when the cold hits the Midwest, many homeowners turn up the furnace, then they get the first heating bill and realize that they have to use less energy.  

In the winter, there are a few tips you can do that will reduce your heating bill. The obvious is to turn down your heat in your home, but there are some elementary actions you can take right now to reduce energy consumption in your home. They are:

Keep shades open on sunny days. On sunny days draw your blinds and curtains to let the sunshine and warm the rooms. The warmth from the sun will heat the rooms, and you keep you warm naturally.
Turn down the thermostat before bed. If your thermostat is not programmable then be sure to turn the dial down to about 64 degrees when you go to bed. Be sure everyone has lots of blankets to keep warm on below freezing Chicagoland nights.
Caulk windows and doors. For windows and doors where you notice a draft, be sure to use removable caulk to close up any gaps where the cold air can enter your home. You will see an immediate difference.
Invest in a programmable thermostat. When you can program the temperature in your home, you will know that you are saving money, saving energy and giving you peace of mind.

Four Types of Thermostats

There are four types of thermostats found in Northwest Indiana and south suburban Chicago homes. They are as follows:

Mercury Contact Bimetallic Thermostat. A mercury contact bimetallic thermostat is not digital and changes the temperature when it senses two thin pieces of metal expand and contract.
Mechanical Contact Thermostat. A mechanical contact thermostat has a mechanical contact to sense temperature changes.
Digital Thermostat. A digital thermostat features electronic controls instead of a bimetallic coil to sense temperature changes.
Electronic Programmable Thermostat. An electronic programmable thermostat is a digital thermostat that can be programmed.

A Programmable Thermostat is a Good Investment

Programmable thermostats are a tool for every homeowner to use to save energy, to save money and to keep the temperature just right. Van Drunen Heating and Air Conditioning can install a programmable thermostat for you and will explain how to use it. Programmable thermostats can help you save energy by doing the following:

Providing you with the current temperature in your house.
Allowing you to change your thermostat setting no matter where you happen to be.
Telling you when the furnace filter needs to be changed.

Contact Us Today

If you would like to talk with us at Van Drunen Heating and Air Conditioning about the benefits of a programmable thermostat or need any furnace maintenance, repair, or replacement, contact us today. Call us at 708-339-6444, or send us a message using the online form on our website.