Name: Bounds Heating & Air
Address: 25645 West, Newberry Road, Newberry, FL, 32669
Telephone: 352-472-2761

Thermostat Tips and Tricks for Lower Energy Bills in 2022

The past few years have been difficult, but the new year offers opportunities to turn that around! So in the spirit of making 2022 as excellent as possible, the experts at Bounds Heating & Air have curated this list of tips and tricks to ensure you can save some extra money this year.

Tips and Tricks

Use the Optimal Settings

One excellent way to keep your energy bill low in the new year is by optimizing your thermostat’s settings so that your HVAC system doesn’t have to work too hard during the hot and cold seasons.

Summer Settings

While it is tempting to crank the air conditioner during a hot Florida summer, you can keep a little extra cash in your pocket by setting your home’s cooling system to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you are home. If you and your family will be away from home for more than four hours or more, you can save even more by increasing your home’s temperature to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. While these settings won’t offer the same reprieve from the heat, they will still keep your home comfortable and your wallet fat.

Winter Settings

Florida’s moderate winters are not nearly as taxing on your HVAC system as the summer months, but you can still find some savings once the temperatures begin to cool. By setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime, you can reduce the energy consumption of your heating unit, saving you some extra money this winter.

If you can’t stand the cold, try slowly dropping your settings one degree at a time, this should allow you to acclimate to colder temperatures while still reaping the money-saving benefits.

Turn the Temperature Down When You Aren’t Home

If you often leave home without adjusting your thermostat, you are leaving potential savings on the table. If you are going to be away from your house for more than 4 hours or are going to sleep, you should consider dropping your settings. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Energy, turning your thermostat down by 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours a day can reduce your energy bill by as much as 15 percent annually.

Install a Smart Thermostat

If you often forget to adjust your thermostat’s temperature or find it to be a tedious task, a smart thermostat can be a worthwhile investment. Modern thermostats like the Nest learning thermostat can learn your schedule and save you money by automatically changing to a more energy-efficient temperature when you’re not home. According to a white paper from Nest, people saved an average of $131 to $145 a year by installing their learning thermostat.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a smart thermometer, the expert technicians at Bounds Heating & Air have you covered! Contact us online or give us a call at (352) 472-2761 to get your installation scheduled today!

6 Pro Tips for Troubleshooting Your Heater

While Florida’s winter is relatively moderate, it is still nice to have your heat available when you want it. Finding that your heater isn’t working well (or not running altogether) can be stressful, but you may not need to call an HVAC technician just yet.

First, try some of these tips to troubleshoot what may be happening — then give the pros at Bounds Heating & Air a call:

HEATER NOT WORKING

There can be a litany of reasons behind why your heater isn’t running, and not all necessitate you hiring a professional to handle the issue.

Check the Thermostat

The first move you should make is to check your thermostat. While you may assume that your thermostat’s settings are what they’re supposed to be, you should still make sure it is set to “heat.” For the heater to switch on, the temperature on your thermostat may need to be at least five degrees above room temperature.

Also, check to see if your thermostat is set to “auto” versus “on.” If it’s set to “auto,” the heater should start up automatically when your home’s temperature drops a few degrees below the temperature specified on the thermostat. If your thermostat is set to “on,” then your system’s fan will continue circulating air even if your heater isn’t heating it. This setting can make it feel like cold or room temperature air is coming from your air vents, so you may want to switch to “auto.”

It’s best to make sure your settings are correct to avoid the embarrassment of hiring a technician only to find out nothing was wrong.

Check the Circuit Breaker

If your thermostat settings are fine, you should check your home’s breaker panel and look for the circuit that controls your heater’s indoor unit. If you own a heat pump, also check the circuit associated with the outdoor unit. If you find that the breaker has been set to the “Off” position, or it’s in the middle, you should test your breaker by flipping it back and forth. After flipping the breaker, make sure that it is placed in the “On” position.

Flipping the switch will restart the circuit that controls the heater’s indoor unit. If it’s still not working despite resetting your circuit breaker, you might have an issue with the wiring in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself. In that case, it’s better to hire an experienced professional to fix your problem.

Check the Furnace Door

As a safety precaution, some furnaces won’t run unless their door is closed securely. Double-check that the door is in place by opening it and firmly shutting it.

HEATER STRUGGLING TO WARM YOUR HOME

If you turned your heating system back on for the winter and found it struggling to warm your home effectively, the problem may not be as severe as you might think.

Replace Your Clogged Filter

If your furnace is struggling to produce the usual amount of heat, this could signify that your furnace’s filter is clogged. This common maintenance chore is a relatively easy fix and is an excellent way to improve your air quality.

Air filters typically last for up to 90 days, but heavy HVAC system use can clog a filter in as little as 30 to 60 days. Replace the filter with a new one but make sure your filter is pointed in the right direction because that could hurt its effectiveness.

Clear and Clean the Space Around Your Furnace

Did you know that heaters require proper airflow and ventilation to function well? If your heater isn’t working well, you might need to declutter and clean the surrounding area.

If the area around your furnace is surrounded by objects, it can hurt how effectively your home is heated. Not only can clutter around your furnace affect your heating, but it also represents a potential fire hazard.

Regularly cleaning the area surrounding your heater is a great way to maintain its health while removing the flammable items from the site. Dust and lint also pose a fire hazard and can cause clogs sooner than usual, which requires you to replace your filter more often.

Check Your Vents

Blocked vents could be hurting the heat flow in your home. It would be best if you walked through your home, checking all your ducts to make sure that they’re unblocked. You should remove any piece of furniture or debris blocking the openings of your vents to allow the heat to flow freely throughout your home.

If all your attempts to troubleshoot your heating system fail, call (352) 472-2761 to have the experienced professionals at Bounds Heating & Air handle all your HVAC issues.

Understanding the NOAA 2018-19 Winter Weather Outlook

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its annual Winter Weather Outlook for the months of December through February last October 18. According to the report, many parts of the country could expect a mild 2018-2019 winter. Today, Bounds Heating and Air, a top HVAC repair company, will discuss the Winter Outlook and explain how our services can help homeowners:

The NOAA 2018-19 Winter Weather Outlook

According to the report, warmer than normal conditions are expected across much of the western and northern U.S. The Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, and Tennessee Valley all have equal chances for above-average, near, or below-average temperatures. No part of the country is predicted to have below-average temperatures. However, do note that even during a warmer-than-average winter, periods of cold temperatures are still likely to occur.

As for precipitation, wetter-than-average conditions are more likely to occur across the southern tier of the U.S. and up into the Mid-Atlantic. Northern Florida and southern Georgia have the biggest chance for above-average precipitation this winter. In contrast, drier-than-average conditions are favored in parts of the Northern Plains, northern Rockies, northern Ohio Valley, and in the Great Lakes region. We believe that following weather reports like these will help you better plan out your heating and air conditioning repair projects and be weather-ready and climate-smart.

Our Services

Bounds Heating and Air has provided expert HVAC services to North Florida communities for over 20 years. Our services include HVAC maintenance and repairs as well as performing home energy audits. We also offer maintenance plans that will keep your system working at peak efficiency all year long. These maintenance agreements also get you a discount on parts necessary for repairs and a reduced rate on service calls outside of yearly inspections.

Bounds Heating and Air can help you with all of your HVAC maintenance needs because we have decades of experience and we work with some of the best people in the industry. We also offer 24/7 emergency services. Call us at 352-472-2761 to learn more about our services and products. We serve Newberry, FL, and nearby areas in Florida.

Category: Winter