5 Ways to Save on Heating Bills in Portland

Do you want to feel comfortably warm in your Oregon home this winter?

Or do you want to rein in heating bills?

At Pyramid Heating and Cooling, we believe you shouldn’t have to choose between a cozy home and a healthy bank account. By combining a few simple habits with smart technology, you can significantly reduce your energy consumption without sacrificing comfort in Portland.

We specialize in keeping homes in the Greater Portland and Bend communities efficient and cozy, while educating our customers about HVAC products and practices that can save money on heating bills.

Here are five ways to reduce your heating costs this winter without compromising your comfort.

1. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat

A manual thermostat maintains a constant temperature, wasting energy when you are away or asleep. A smart thermostat makes temperature changes so easy. It learns your routine and automatically adjusts the temperature based on home occupancy and heating needs.

ENERGY STAR^® smart thermostats save approximately eight percent of heating and cooling bills annually. These Wi-Fi–enabled thermostats lower the heat when you are away from home or asleep, eliminating wasteful heating. You can also monitor and control your settings remotely from an app on your smartphone, ensuring you do not heat an empty house unnecessarily.

Our Pyramid Heating & Cooling experts can install, program, and calibrate a smart thermostat to work perfectly with your existing furnace or heat pump. Call us or schedule online for an estimate!

2. Prioritize Furnace or Heat Pump Maintenance

A well-maintained system uses less energy.

A dirty, unlubricated furnace or heat pump works harder to achieve and maintain your desired temperature. It uses more fuel or electricity to heat your home.

A tune-up also identifies minor problems that, if left unaddressed, could worsen and cause your system to break down. Multiple issues and a breakdown are more costly than repairing a minor problem.

At Pyramid Heating & Cooling, we thoroughly clean your heating system, inspect electrical connections, identify safety hazards, and calibrate the thermostat, in addition to examining components specific to furnaces and heat pumps.

You can contribute to system maintenance by checking the air filter for dirt and clogs every month. Replace your one-inch standard air filter at least every 90 days. Follow the manufacturer’s directions on replacement frequency for wider filters.

Maintenance ensures your system operates at peak efficiency, which in turn lowers your fuel consumption, reduces utility bills, and extends the unit’s lifespan.

3. Consider a Zoning System

Why heat your entire home when you spend your time in a few rooms? Install HVAC zoning in your forced-air heating system and heat the areas you use most frequently.

A zoning system divides your home into separate temperature areas. Each area or zone has its own thermostat, allowing you to lower the heat in rarely used rooms while maintaining a comfortable temperature in main living areas. Motorized dampers placed in your system’s ductwork respond to zone thermostats, opening when the zone requires more heat and closing when it doesn’t.

This focused heating strategy significantly cuts overall energy use and customizes comfort throughout your home. Everyone in the family can enjoy their temperature preference in one of multiple zones.

Let Pyramid Heating & Cooling evaluate your heating system, ductwork, and home layout to see if zoning is the best solution for home energy savings.

4. Seal and Insulate

Drafts are your heating budget’s worst enemy in our cool, damp, Pacific Northwest winters. You can’t save money if your heat escapes to the outdoors.

Sealing leaks stops heated air from escaping and prevents cold air from rushing in. Insulation acts as an added protective blanket of warmth.

You can perform your own simple audit by checking around windows, exterior doors, electrical outlets, and plumbing penetrations for gaps. Use weatherstripping on doors and caulk to seal around window frames.

Consider having a professional blower door test or an energy audit performed to reveal hidden air leaks in your attic, basement, and walls. Hire a professional for air sealing and new insulation.

5. Do-It-Yourself Steps to Save on Heating

Use the sun’s free energy during the day to warm south-facing rooms. The sun acts as a passive heat source, warming up the interior surfaces of your room for free.

Cover windows with thick thermal drapes to keep the warmth inside after sunset. The thick fabric creates an insulating layer that helps prevent heat from escaping through the cold glass.

Run your ceiling fan during the winter to pull cooler air near the floor up toward the ceiling and push warmer air down along the walls. Set your ceiling fan to run clockwise on the lowest speed setting. The fan circulates heat throughout the room, making you feel warmer without requiring an increase in the thermostat setting.

Start Saving Money on Heating Today!

By combining these simple DIY tricks with smart, professional upgrades such as smart thermostats and zoning systems, you can significantly reduce heating expenses in your Portland, OR, home this winter. Schedule furnace or heat pump maintenance today with our Pyramid Heating and Cooling team, and ask about zoning and smart thermostats. Call us at 503-783-8488 or request service online.