When you are expecting visitors for the holidays, it is easy to assume that you will be spending more energy, and therefore more money, heating your house, lighting up your Christmas lights, and using your oven, stove, and other appliances to entertain. While this may be true, especially as opposed to years when you yourself may be out of town, there are lots of ways for you to save energy even with a house full of guests! Check out these seven tips from your friends at Maki Electric, Heating and Air, and save money on your energy bill without compromising on the fun and warmth of the holidays.Â
#1. Use your wood-burning fireplace or woodstove.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, pellet stove, or wood-burning stove and your area allows for burning, the holidays are a great time to light up a toasty fire. Not only will this help heat your house in an effective way without using your heater so much, but a glowing fire adds a wonderful ambiance to your home for the holiday season, making everyone feel extra cozy and comfortable.
#2. Take advantage of existing heat sources.
The holidays are often a time of lots of cooking and entertaining, yet people often don’t realize how much that extra heat from their oven can warm up the kitchen. When you’re done using your oven after cooking a meal or baking bread or desserts, turn it off, but leave the door cracked slightly open. This way, all of the heat will dissipate into your kitchen and dining room and help heat the area with the energy you have already generated (and paid for!)
#3. Have your furnace cleaned.
Having your furnace cleaned before a holiday celebration is a great way to save money because an energy efficient furnace kicks on less often and produces more heat for less money. When the furnace is clean and functioning well, it doesn’t have to work so hard. This means you use less energy to heat your home to the same temperature, which in turn is great for your wallet.
#4. Consider investing in a mini split system.
A mini split heating and air conditioning unit is a great way to heat only the parts of your house you are using, which can be especially helpful when out-of-town guests visit. If you have one guestroom or an entire wing of your house that isn’t typically utilized except for when visitors come to stay, getting a mini split system means you only heat that part of the house when guests are actually occupying it.Â
You’ll save money year-round through a mini split system; the benefits are not just felt during the holiday season. It is especially helpful for guests to control the climate settings in their own area of the house without you having to keep the entire house extra warm.
#5. Put timers on your Christmas lights.
If you want to have your house all lit up like Chevy Chase in the classic holiday film Christmas Vacation, but you’re worried about your electric bill, one way to save on energy and money is to install automatic timers on your lights. Solar timers are even available at hardware stores for a very minimal cost, so that your lights come on automatically when the sun goes down.Â
You can then choose to set the timer for two hours, four hours, or longer to control how much energy you use. This will help you enjoy a beautiful holiday display of lights without breaking the bank.Â
#6. Choose LED holiday lights rather than incandescent.
When you choose LED lights for your holiday displays… on everything from your Christmas tree to your outdoor decorations, you will quickly realize that they are much more energy efficient than traditional incandescent lights. Because they use so much less energy but still emit a dazzling glow, you can enjoy the festivities without spending unnecessary money.Â
#7. Get your ducts regularly inspected.
Leaky ducks are one of the top culprits when it comes to wasted energy since hot air can easily escape from leaks. At Makin Heating and Air, we are pros at duct cleaning and inspection which means we can keep your heater running efficiently so that you don’t lose the energy you have already generated and paid for. When ducts are leaky, dirty, or running inefficiently, warm air is lost to the outdoors, so you are essentially paying more to heat your home as your heater has to continually kick on to keep a steady temperature. This can also wear out other features in your furnace, since it is working overtime to heat your house.Â
Contact Maki Heating and Air to Save Energy and Money this Holiday Season
At Maki Heating and Air Conditioning in the Sierra Nevada Foothills we love helping our customers stay comfortable all year round, but the holidays are an extra special time that we want to help spread joy and comfort. Give us a call at (530) 885-3449 or (916) 782-9242 today to see how we can help you with other energy and money saving tips for the holidays. We offer all kinds of services in the Greater Sacramento Area and look forward to helping you get the most out of your joyous holiday season this year. Remember to make it Maki and we will make you one satisfied customer.
