Podcasts Education Today's Homeowner Podcast How to Heat Your Home Efficiently for Fall Weather

How to Heat Your Home Efficiently for Fall Weather

Published: Oct. 5, 2020, 3:16 p.m.

Are you ready for fall weather? In this special Today’s Homeowner Podcast, we’re talking with Kellie Lindenmoyer, Gas Furnace Product Manager at American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning.

Here are a few things you can do to prepare for cold weather, along with tips to save on your heating bills. 

Prepare for Fall Weather

Make sure that your furnace or heat pump is ready to work when the first cold snap hits. So, before harsh fall and winter weather arrive, check your thermostat.

To do that, just set it to heat mode, and make sure hot air actually comes out of the vents. If your heating works, great! But if you don’t feel warm air, it’s time to call a professional technician.

Most dealers offer annual maintenance plans to ensure your indoor and outdoor units work throughout the year. This extends your system’s life and ensures you won’t end up in the cold without heat.

Each checkup may cost $100 or so, but it’s a good investment. Think about it: You get oil changes and tire rotations because you want to keep your vehicle running and in top condition.

It’s no different for your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. So, don’t take your HVAC system for granted and wait until the system breaks to get professional service. Let a technician inspect your burners and make sure they’re in top shape for fall and winter weather.

While that professional maintenance may cost $100 here and there, it could save you the thousands of dollars it costs to prematurely replace the system.

The Importance of Energy Efficiency

HVAC systems purchased before 2006 usually have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio that’s significantly lower than today’s industry standards.

In fact, some of today’s heat pumps can save you 60 percent on heating bills, whereas an older model may save you just 10 percent. That’s not too encouraging when you realize how much you’ll use that system during chilly fall and winter weather.

A heat pump is an energy-efficient option to bring warm air from outside your home to inside your home using refrigerant. It can deliver both warm and cool air, and operates best when temperatures are above freezing levels. Furnaces, on the other hand, burn natural gas or liquid propane to deliver heating.

But you can get the best of both worlds: A heat pump and furnace can be paired to create a dual-fuel or hybrid system.

You can optimize the system to run on a heat pump when it’s above 30 degrees Fahrenheit and when it falls below that threshold, you get the benefit of a furnace! Perfect for chilly fall and winter weather.

But not all HVAC systems are created equal. Some are louder than others, and some operate on full blast, reach the desired temperature and immediately cut off — meaning you can expect a lot of warm and cold cycles in your home.

American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning’s AccuComfort Platinum 20 Heat Pump has variable speeds that provide even heating throughout the home.

And American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning’s Gold 824 Control is a smart thermostat that programs your temperatures and makes adjustments whether you’re at home or anywhere with internet access.

How many times have you left the house and realized you forgot to turn the thermostat down and it will run all day? Having a smart thermostat eliminates that problem, and it’s a great way to optimize energy savings during fall and winter weather.

The Importance of Indoor Air Quality

Sometimes, when the sun shines just right, you can see the rays stream through a window. And you can see all kinds of particles floating in the air. Those are the kinds of allergens that you should remove to improve your indoor air quality.

But not just any air filter will do. Pleated and reusable filters are a better option than typical grocery store filters. They remove more particles, which is great for your health, and they last longer, which is great for your wallet.

Either way, regular maintenance is necessary, so replace the filter regularly, as advised. The last thing you want are clogged filters that strain your heating system, especially during fall and winter weather.

Listen to this special podcast to learn more about efficient ways to heat your home!

  • [0:20] What homeowners should do to prepare for winter
  • [1:48] The advantages of having an annual heating maintenance plan
  • [6:36] Understanding the difference between heat pumps and furnaces
  • [9:38] What Danny loves about his American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning system
  • [11:33] Why programmable thermostats save energy and money
  • [14:47] How American Standard’s AccuClean Whole-Home Air Cleaner improves indoor air quality