When temperatures drop, homeowners often seek easy and effective ways to implement energy saving techniques. Unfortunately, however, not all heating and energy saving tips are created equal — oftentimes, the best ways to reduce heating costs reside behind a slew of energy-saving myths commonly believed as truths.

The best way to ensure you get the top heating tips is to work with a reputable, local HVAC company for high-quality HVAC services, including heating services for NorCal homes and businesses.

Want to optimize the functionality of your HVAC system while paying less for monthly utilities? Contact us today to schedule an HVAC appointment and start lowering your heating costs and avoid falling for the following heating and energy-saving myths.

Woman Using Thermostat

Myth #1: Space Heaters Are Less Expensive To Run Than Your Furnace

You may have heard that one of the best ways to conserve energy when it gets cold is to turn down your furnace and, instead, use electric space heaters to warm your home or commercial space. But using electric space heaters is actually one of the least efficient ways to heat an indoor space. By relying on space heaters, you’re only going to trade one source of energy for another.

While space heaters might be smaller in size than the average residential or small commercial furnace, they require a significant amount of electricity to function. Heating your indoor settings using a high-efficiency furnace and scheduling prompt and professional furnace maintenance, however, can help ensure your furnace functions at peak efficiency. Contact Spoor’s Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn about our Home Comfort Club!

Myth #2: Closing Vents In Unoccupied Rooms Lowers Heating Costs

Many people believe that they should close the air vents within rooms that are rarely used in order to avoid wasting energy heating unoccupied spaces. But it’s important to remember that your residential or commercial heating system is specifically designed to properly heat each room within the entire structure. Should you close off part of the ventilation system, air pressure will increase, causing the ductwork to leak and heated air to become lost.

Additionally, closing vents and registers in certain areas can put strain on your heating system and cause unnecessary wear and tear. Instead, keep all registers and vents open, and contact us to discuss the benefits of installing the most efficient heater for home and business use, such as a ductless mini split system, to help you increase energy efficiency long term.

Myth #3: Cranking The Thermostat Will Heat Your Rooms Faster

It might seem like a good idea to kick the thermostat up a notch in order to make your indoor spaces warm and cozy, but the reality is that attempting to raise the temperature by spiking your heating system’s pre-set temperature actually wastes a lot of energy. In fact, it will take approximately the same amount of time to warm your home or business to a comfortable level even if it’s raised to a high temperature.

A better way to save on electric bill costs is to consider installing a digital thermostat. Digital thermostats are both affordable and offer greater temperature control than traditional thermostats, as they can be programmed to your desired temperature from most smartphones, tablets, and computers. Contact us to learn more about additional easy ways to save electricity with your heating and cooling system.

Myth #4: Your Furnace Isn’t Powerful Enough To Heat The Whole House

Unless your residential or commercial structure has a very old or inefficient heating system that requires replacement with a newer, more energy-efficient furnace, issues related to whole-home heating are typically related to problems with the ductwork, clogged filters, or clogged vents. Additionally, if you notice that rooms on the outside walls of your home or business aren’t adequately being heated, it could be because of inadequate insulation.

For the purposes of increasing indoor comfort and saving energy, we recommend going around each area of the structure and thoroughly cleaning and clearing all vents and registers. If this doesn’t fix the issue, call our HVAC repair company to schedule heating repair services — we also offer emergency HVAC repairs to help home and business owners resolve unexpected HVAC issues.