How to Stay Warm and Save Money During Chilly Winter Nights In Florida

If you’ve lived in North Port, Florida, for long, there’s a good chance that you’re a warm weather lover. During the winter months, you might feel tempted to crank up the thermostat to stay warm. That can lead to surprisingly high utility bills, though. So how can you get through the winter without freezing? Follow these five tips to stay warm and save money during chilly winter nights in Florida:

Reprogram the Thermostat

If you tend to adjust the thermostat on the fly, try choosing a heating schedule and sticking to it. A smart thermostat allows you to program an energy-efficient heating schedule that keeps you warm while keeping your utility costs nice and low.

To program an efficient schedule, set the temperature to 68 degrees when the family is home and awake. When everyone is typically asleep or out for the day, program the temperature to dip to 58 degrees. You won’t notice the chilly temperature while you’re away, and your smart thermostat will automatically heat your home to 68 before you return. As an added bonus, you’ll save up to 10 percent on your heating bill.

Check the Indoor Air Quality

The temperature in your home has a substantial effect on your comfort, but so does the humidity. If you’ve never paid attention to your home’s moisture level, you may need to improve your home’s indoor air quality.

In the winter, the indoor humidity should be around 40 percent. If it’s too low, your home will feel cooler. If it’s too high, condensation could build up on your windows. Consider installing a whole-home humidifier to balance out the moisture levels in your home.

Schedule an HVAC Tune-up

If your indoor air quality isn’t up to par or some rooms never feel warm enough, you could benefit from scheduling an HVAC tune-up. We recommend scheduling a tune-up for your heating system at least once a year. Not only will our service technicians make sure that your heating system runs as efficiently as possible but they will also remedy minor issues before they cause major breakdowns.

Consider Zoning Systems

It’s easy to assume that closing vents in guest rooms and little-used rooms can help direct more heat to the rooms you use the most. However, closing vents can actually compromise your heating system’s efficiency without increasing your comfort level. To help your HVAC system run efficiently, always open all the vents in your home. Also, make sure that furniture and rugs don’t obstruct the airflow from these vents.

If you want to control which rooms receive the most heat, talk with our team about zoning systems. When we install zoning systems, we effectively divide your home into two or more heating and cooling zones.

Your existing HVAC system may be able to support multiple zones, but you’ll have a different thermostat to control the temperature in each area. If you always spend the day downstairs but retreat upstairs for bed, zoning systems ensure you’re comfortable without wasting energy.

Upgrade Your Heating System

If your heating system is over 10 years old and doesn’t keep you warm any longer, consider a heating system upgrade. Purchasing a new heating system is an investment. But your new system could increase your energy efficiency, lower your utility bills and provide more consistent temperatures.

New heating systems have a variety of high-tech features, like scroll compressors and variable-speed blowers, which are designed for ultimate comfort in cold weather. Most new systems also work seamlessly with smart thermostat and indoor air quality add-ons, so you’ll never have to endure a chilly Florida night again.

Whether you’re considering a heating system upgrade or you want to schedule an HVAC tune-up, our team is at your service. Call All American Heating & Cooling today at (941) 451-5228.

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