Fortunately, most winters here on Florida’s Gulf Coast are very mild, which is why so many people choose to vacation and retire here, but we do get our share of freezing nights and cold days even in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Here are several simple and low-cost tips that will help reduce your winter heating costs:
- Maintain your thermostat at 68 degrees during the day when you are home, and at 60 degrees at night or when you are away. If 68 feels cold to you, put on a long sleeved shirt or wear a sweater. Stay toasty warm at night under a fluffy comforter or a couple of blankets on your bed.
- Call Wentzel’s in the fall to service your heating system. Our professional service technicians will clean dirty filters, coils and fans to increase airflow throughout the system and enhance your heating system’s performance. They can also check for leaks in your heating ducts.
- Change or clean the filters in your forced hot air system every month during the cold season.
- Insulate your hot water tank.
- Close off rooms that are not frequently used.
- Open curtains, windows and blinds on sunny days to absorb natural heat from the sun. Close them at night to insulate against the cold.
- Ensure that supply and return vents, radiators and baseboard heating units are not blocked by furniture, appliances or other objects that impede the air flow.
For more energy-saving tips, including portable heating units and fireplaces from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), read about Energy and Fire Safety Tips for the Heating Season.