Go Green with These Eco-Friendly Central Heater Tips

Make the Home “Green” for St. Patrick’s Day

Green means a lot of things this time of year. It can be used as a color to wear on St. Patrick’s Day, a term for environmentally friendly, or a reference to the color of money. It can mean all of those things this spring with a little luck. Take advice from local heater maintenance specialists and adopt some home habits to save money and lower the carbon footprint. 

Use Ceiling Fans as Intended

There is a lot of confusion about which direction a ceiling fan should turn depending on the season, but the reason for the seasonal change is simple. In the summer, a ceiling fan’s job is to push air past a room's occupants and create a cooling breeze from the downdraft. In the winter, a ceiling fan should be used to mix the warm air that rises to the ceiling without creating a draft that will have a chilling effect. 

In the summer, a fan should spin counterclockwise. A counterclockwise spin will create a breeze felt directly beneath the fan. As air rushes past the skin of those under the fan, the evaporation of their sweat creates a cooling feel. 

In the winter, warm air pools near the ceiling of all rooms in a home. This causes a loss of efficiency and comfort. When fans turn clockwise, the warm air near the ceiling is pushed back down around the room's edges instead of directly under it. This prevents cooling drafts while pushing heat back down to the occupied spaces. 

By changing the direction of the fans, homeowners can enjoy a break on their heating and cooling bills by up to 15%. 

Keep the Filters Changed

The most important thing a homeowner can do to make their home more comfortable and efficient is to keep clean air filters in their central heating system. For a heater to function properly, it needs to be able to move air around the home easily. Filters are installed in every central heating system to keep dust from building up around moving parts in the heater and ductwork. 

However, as these filters get laden with dust, they restrict airflow through the heater. The result is that heaters have to work harder and longer to move warmed air around the home. By keeping filters clean, homeowners keep their air cleaner and their bills lower. 

Invest in a Smart Thermostat

When it comes to efficiency, so much is lost on the control of the central heater. Most people are aware that energy can be saved by lowering the temperature in the home overnight and warming it only when people are present, but this habit can be a hassle. Smart thermostats take the guesswork out of heating a home efficiently. 

A smart thermostat has algorithms that it uses to increase the energy efficiency of a heater. Simply by installing a smart thermostat, homeowners can enjoy hundreds of dollars in savings and not worry about constantly fiddling with the thermostat. 

About Lascko Services 

Lascko Services has nearly 25 years of experience helping customers heat and cool their homes efficiently. Their professional technicians always offer the latest technology to save their customers money. Call today for emergency heating service in Muskegon, MI.

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