General HVAC News, Tips & Advice

Are you considering adding a zoning system to your home’s heating and cooling setup? If so, you’ll want to read this guide. It covers everything you need to know about HVAC zoning systems, from their benefits to whether or not one would be right for your home. By the time you finish reading, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about whether or not a zoning system is right for you.​

What is an HVAC Zoning System?

An HVAC zoning system provides heating and cooling throughout an establishment. It works by using dampers in the ductwork to regulate and redirect air into different areas of the building or residence. This allows occupants to control and customize the temperature of various zones throughout the building or residence.

There are two ways to set up HVAC zoning. For example, a larger home might have two systems, one controlled by a thermostat upstairs and the other controlled by a thermostat downstairs. This is an example of HVAC zoning where each zone has a separate HVAC system.

Or, you may have a single HVAC system with multiple zones. HVAC equipment usually has multiple duct runs off its plenum (a box that that the heated or cooled air goes into before being distributed throughout the home). Dampers are installed into these duct runs to the zones you want to control.

How does an HVAC zoning system work?

In order to get your HVAC zoning system started, you first have to figure out in which areas you want to control heating and cooling separately. Once you have decided on how to divide up your home into zones, you’ll have thermostats installed in each of the zones so you can set the temperature you want.

Your HVAC zoning system uses dampers that are installed inside of your ducts. These dampers control airflow within your ducts, letting air pass through or stopping it from flowing through the duct. When you set the thermostat in a zone to a specific temperature, the ducts that serve that zone will open the dampers to allow hot or cold air to enter the area. Once the zone’s temperature matches your thermostat setting, the dampers will close off the ducts.

All of these thermostats and dampers will be connected to one HVAC zone control panel, which is the brains of the system. It tells dampers when to open and close to maintain the temperature you want in each zone.

You can have more than two zones if desired, with even individual rooms set up as separate zones, controlled by a thermostat in that room. With more than two zones, however, you may need a newer furnace, one with a variable speed (ECM) motor on the fan if your furnace doesn’t already have that kind of motor.

What are the Benefits of an HVAC Zoning System?

HVAC zoning systems offer a number of benefits for homeowners. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is the extra control and comfort that these systems provide. With a traditional HVAC system, the entire home is cooled or heated to the temperature set on a single thermostat in one location. This can often lead to areas that are too cold or too hot because of the distance from the thermostat, and the external influences on those areas.

With an HVAC zoning system, each zone can be set to a different temperature. This allows you to customize the temperature in each room or area of your home to ensure maximum comfort.

Without having to heat or cool your entire home, you will also be saving money on your energy bills. That being said, HVAC zoning systems have a higher installation cost. The HVAC installer needs to install dampers in each duct to every zone, separate thermostats in each zone, and a control panel.

Also, you will need to pay for the increased electrical work involved. HVAC zoning systems need more hardware and have a more complex operating system than traditional options for heating and cooling. This means there is also a higher potential for repairs.

In addition to providing extra control and comfort, HVAC zoning systems can also help to improve air quality. By allowing you to control the temperature in each zone, you can also control the amount of airflow.

This means that you can direct more airflow through areas that are dusty or have other airborne pollutants. As a result, these duct zone control systems can help you create a healthier indoor environment if you have good air filters in your system.

How to tell if an HVAC Zoning System is Right for Your Home

There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to whether or not a new HVAC system is right for your home. You will want to consider your budget, your existing energy bill (zone heating and air conditioning can save quite a bit of money), and whether or not you have the right infrastructure to install it into your home.

You will also want to consider the type of home you have. Here are a few common home-specific questions you can ask yourself to see if HVAC zoning is right for you.

Do you have a multi-level home?

Do you have a chilly main floor but hot upstairs bedrooms? An HVAC zoning will allow for different temperature settings in different areas of your home, as we mentioned above. If you have a multi-level home with temperature fluctuations, investing in a zoned HVAC system is one solution to get all levels of your home at a comfortable temperature.

HVAC zoning will allow you to set different temperatures for the upstairs and downstairs portions of your home instead of attempting to control both levels with one thermostat. You might even want to control individual rooms within those areas.

Do you have rooms with high ceilings?

A zoned HVAC system is a popular way to fix the problems that come with heating rooms with tall ceilings, where heat will rise, cooling off the ground area of the room. High-ceilinged rooms are notorious for becoming cool and drafty because the warm air rises to the ceiling. Having a separate furnace zone for this type of room can increase air circulation to help keep comfortable temperatures without compromising comfort elsewhere throughout the property.

Does your home have a lot of glass?

HVAC zoning systems are a great way to regulate the temperature in your home, especially if you have a lot of glass. Sunlight can play a big role in raising the temperature of a room, and if you have picture windows, bay windows, or large glass windows, it can be a struggle to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout your entire house.

Dual-glazed windows are the least problematic. Single-pane windows can radiate your heat out when you want it to stay in or transmit heat in when you want it to stay out. The older ones especially can leak your heated or cooled air.

Because HVAC zoning systems work by dividing your house into different zones, you can set the temperature for your glass-walled rooms independently. With zoned air conditioning you won’t have to worry about one sunny room becoming too hot, and zoned furnaces will keep your shady rooms with old windows from becoming too cold.

How much does an HVAC zoning system cost?

HVAC zoning is not an insubstantial investment. Typically, the zoning equipment and installation will cost homeowners anywhere from $2,000 to $3,300 or more, depending on the size of your house or building and the number of zones. It also depends on where you are located and the going cost of labor in your area. Comparatively, a typical new residential gas furnace including the installation will cost between $3,000 to $6,000 or more.

That’s just the cost of the zoning equipment and installation. If you replace or add HVAC components into your existing system, the cost will be much higher. And you will need to factor in whether or not you have existing ductwork and also whether or not that ductwork can be set up for zoning. Plus, you should factor in renovation costs down the line, just in case.

Despite it having a higher cost of installation, HVAC zoning systems can save money on energy bills in the long run. And you can still find HVAC system deals in your area. Plus, you’ll get substantially increased comfort.

What do I need to install zoning to my existing system?

It’s much more cost effective to install HVAC zoning into a new build. But you can probably overhaul your existing HVAC system. You will need to budget for a technician to upgrade your existing system as necessary, and then install dampers, wiring, control panel, and thermostats.

Unless you are an HVAC technician, it is unlikely you will be able to install zoning into your existing system by yourself. It’s always best to work with a professional.

Is There An Alternative?

Some people think they can achieve the same effect by closing off the vent openings in the rooms they aren’t using, and save money by not heating or cooling those rooms. But in addition to being inconvenient, it may be counterproductive.

The fan on your system usually is set to deliver a fixed amount of air to the ducts, according to the calculations your HVAC installer made. If some of the outlets for this are blocked off, the fan has to work harder to deliver that fixed amount of air. This will increase your energy bills and wear out the fan faster.

In Conclusion

HVAC zoning systems are an efficient way to improve comfort while also saving energy. By dividing your home into different zones, you can control the temperature in each zone independently.

This allows you to keep the temperature at a comfortable level in the areas where you spend the most time without wasting energy on areas that are not being used at the time. Homes with high ceilings, multiple levels, varying temperatures between rooms, and lots of glass windows or walls are prime candidates for HVAC zoning systems. That being said, some can find the cost of installation off-putting.

Interested in HVAC zoning systems? Get a Free Quote on HVAC Systems in Your Area.

In modern homes, Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems are becoming an increasingly popular way to improve and maintain good air quality and regulate indoor temperatures. Various companies, including Reliance and Enercare, provide protection plans for HVAC systems, ensuring that, whatever the time of year, your home is the ideal temperature for your needs and is fully insured. 

What Is an HVAC Protection Plan?

Simply put, HVAC protection plans serve as insurance for your HVAC system, guaranteeing that your system receives the proper care to keep running efficiently. Most protection plans include some if not all of the following: seasonal inspections, tune-ups, and preventative care. These services can also make your HVAC system more energy efficient, saving you money on your utility bills. 

The measures included in protection plans ensure that, whatever your temperature needs are, your HVAC system can run efficiently without experiencing any faults or breaking down. If, however, a problem does occur, having a plan in place grants you prepaid access to professionals who can resolve the issue. 

Where Should You Get Your HVAC Protection Plan From?

Before committing to a particular protection plan, it is important that you explore all of your options and find a plan that best suits your needs. There are a variety of companies that offer HVAC protection plans, including but not limited to: Reliance, Enercare, Boonstra, and Aire Serv. Contractors will often offer their own protection plans if they are installing your HVAC system. 

While the basic aspects of protection plans will be the same across providers, prices vary as do the benefits that each company offers. Conducting your own research is the best way to guarantee that you get a protection plan that works for you. 

Who Should Consider Getting an HVAC Protection Plan?

The HVAC system is one of the most important elements of a modern home, alongside your electric and water supply. Therefore, a protection plan is an essential purchase for any homeowner. It ensures that, whether you discover a small fault or your whole system unexpectedly fails, you have prepaid access to professionals who can quickly resolve the issue. 

If you do not have an HVAC protection plan you are unlikely to detect signs of wear and, therefore, lack the chance to provide preventative care before the whole system fails. Furthermore, you will have to pay for repairs out of pocket. The short-term savings of postponing the purchase of a protection plan can lead to huge expenses in the future. Before dismissing protection plans, explore your options and find a plan that suits your financial needs. 

What are the Pros and Cons of HVAC Protection Plans?

The Pros

It is important to remember that the specifics of the protection plans offered by each company vary, but these are the most common benefits you can expect to receive if you purchase a protection plan. Most importantly, knowing that your HVAC system is insured affords you peace of mind. 

• Seasonal inspections
• Regular tune-ups
• Preventative maintenance
• Free repairs for faults that are included in the warranty 
• Discounted prices on repairs that are not covered by the warranty 
• Reduced energy bills
• The yearly maintenance check-ups included in most protection packages ensure that your HVAC system’s warranty remains valid

The Cons

Modern living comes with various financial burdens. Most aspects of life, from maintaining a car to owning a pet come with a form of insurance. As such, it can feel like you are constantly paying out money to companies while only occasionally requiring their services. If you have a new HVAC system and everything is functioning as it should, the benefits of purchasing insurance can seem to diminish. 

• Loss of savings if nothing breaks
• Some protection plans only cover certain parts of the system
• Must provide written notice to cancel

Reliance or Enercare?

The two major providers of HVAC protection plans in Canada are Reliance and Enercare, with both companies offering a range of services and benefits for a monthly fee. 

However, it is important to remember that an external option is available beyond subscribing to the service of any company. Instead of joining an HVAC protection provider, you can deposit money into a savings account each month. This option provides additional flexibility while lacking some of the security provided by Reliance and Enercare. 

Reliance

Reliance offers several different HVAC programs with varying costs and benefits attached to each. The core of each protection plan includes

• Unlimited callouts
• No hidden additional costs
• No requirement for a pre-inspection

Reliance offers a range of different plans, including:

Separate Maintenance and Protection Plans: 

For insurance that covers heating and cooling separately, Reliance offers a maintenance package that comes with a twelve-month fixed term and a monthly protection package, as well as a monthly package that combines the two. Each package includes the core benefits listed above.

The maintenance package costs $9.99 a month and provides:

• Annual maintenance service

The protection package costs $14.99 a month and provides:

• Cover for most parts and labor
• Non-deductible

The maintenance and protection package costs $21.99 a month and provides:

• Cover for most parts and labor
• Non-deductible
• Annual maintenance service

All Season Comfort Plans: 

These plans cover both your heating and cooling systems. They include the core benefits and come in the same three packages: a fixed twelve-month maintenance package, a monthly protection package, and a monthly combined maintenance and protection package. 

The maintenance package costs $16.49 a month and provides:

• Annual maintenance service on your furnace and AC

The protection package costs $19.99 a month and provides:

• Cover for most parts and labor
• Non-deductible

The combined package costs $29.99 a month and provides:

• Cover for most parts and labor
• Non-deductible
• Annual maintenance service

Whole Home Plan: 

This plan covers your electrical and plumbing systems as well as your HVAC system and has no fixed term. It includes:

• Heating Protection & Maintenance Plan
• Cooling Protection & Maintenance Plan
• Electrical Protection & Inspection Plan
• Plumbing Protection Plan
• Cover for most parts and labor
• No pre-inspection required
• Unlimited callouts
• $5 off the Electrical Protection & Inspection Plan by enrolling in the Whole Home Plan

Cancelation Policy: If you wish to cancel any of the protection plans detailed above, you must give Reliance 30 days written notice. Without giving prior notice, you will have to continue to pay the monthly fee.

Enercare

Several different protection plans are offered by Enercare, with some plans including sign-up offers for new customers. 

Separate Maintenance and Protection Plans: 

To ensure either your heating or cooling systems, Enercare offers a protection plan, as well as a combined package that includes protection and maintenance, both of which function on a monthly contract. 

The protection package costs $17.99 per month and provides:

• Access to a licensed technician
• Unlimited service calls
• Parts and labor coverage
• An HVAC assessment

The combined package costs $24.99 (Furnace or AC) or $28.99 (Boiler) per month and provides:

• All of the above
• Annual service by a licensed technician

Total Home Protection Plan: 

Enercare offers a protection plan that covers your HVAC system as well as your plumbing, all for the same monthly fee. This package costs $39.99 a month and provides:

• All of the services included in the heating and cooling protection plans
• Access to a licensed plumber
• A 15% discount on fixture upgrades
• Coverage of parts and labor for plumbing repairs

Cancellation Policy: All Enercare’s contracts come with a one-year commitment, regardless of the payment method you choose. This contract will be automatically renewed at the end of the term. If you decide you no longer want the protection plan, you will need to provide 30 days written notice before the renewal of your plan. 

Conclusion

Both Reliance and Enercare offer comprehensive protection plans that will maintain your systems and provide you with peace of mind. Reliance offers more basic plans at a reduced rate, which may be more affordable, especially if you are a new homeowner. The fixed term attached to some contracts may not be desirable for everyone. 

By contrast, Enercare’s rates are higher but they do offer sign-up bonuses on both of their plans. Either way, investing in a protection plan could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars if your system were to fail. The best course of action is to conduct research by comparing companies and finding the best fit for your current needs. 

Energy audits are a standard way to see how energy-efficient, airtight and well-insulated a home is. They are often done twice; once before and once after energy-reducing home improvements have been done.

A home energy audit in Canada must usually be performed by an EnerGuide energy advisor registered with Natural Resources Canada, especially when done in the context of qualifying for government rebates, like the Canada Greener Home Program.

In this guide, we’ll give you a background on home EnerGuide evaluations, how they work, the costs of one, and the situations in which Canadian homeowners should consider having them performed.

What Is an Energy Audit? (a.k.a. EnerGuide Evaluation)

An energy audit, known officially as an EnerGuide evaluation is an inspection that evaluates your home’s energy use and overall energy efficiency. These audits can help you determine where your energy losses are and give you recommendations on how you can reduce them.

One of the primary aims of an energy audit is to help you assess which retrofits, modifications, and replacements should be done to your home in order to improve its energy efficiency so you will lower your utility bills, thereby saving money in the long run.

For an accurate assessment of your house’s energy efficiency, several processes are incorporated. Typically, an audit will follow EnerGuide guidelines, conducting a blower door test, an evaluation of your home’s insulation levels and effectiveness, and a review of your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) equipment and water heating equipment.

How Do Energy Audits Work?

Energy audits in Canada usually entail three stages:

1. Preparation & Initial Checks

The evaluation marks the beginning of each home energy audit. It begins when the energy auditor comes to your home (or business) to discuss the process and tools involved, and ensure your home is ready for the test.

The auditor will make sure all windows and doors are shut, and that there are no holes in the building’s exterior. He will temporarily block off all the openings to the exterior like vent fans, clothes dryer and kitchen hood exhausts, and fireplaces (remove all ashes first!). He will turn off all pilot lights, so you won’t be able to shower or use your furnace, restoring the appliances to their original state at the end of the audit.

These energy experts will examine your building’s HVAC system and other appliances like your water heater, clothes washing equipment, and refrigerator, and note the model and age of each. They’ll also count the number of windows and doors and calculate the volume of space being heated and cooled.

2. Determining Airtightness

The second stage of an energy audit involves using a blower door to determine the airtightness in your house and help find air leakage. The insulation quality is also evaluated..

During the blower door test, and once all openings to the exterior are sealed, a large fan is temporarily sealed into an exterior doorway. This sucks air out of the building, depressurizing it, which allows the auditor to identify any air leaks so they can be sealed.

The total leakage score is also calculated and recorded to provide a baseline to compare with after improvements are made.

The energy auditor will also perform a thermographic scan of the structure with a high-resolution infrared camera. This allows him to see where there are air leaks, and also to evaluate the insulation within the walls, the top-level ceiling, and the bottom-level floor. He may examine attic insulation directly if the attic is easily accessible.

The advisor will additionally review and discuss electricity usage by your lighting and appliances, window efficiency, and other energy-related aspects of your house.

3. Energy Efficiency Recommendations

After completion of the audit, the energy advisor will provide a report with a list of recommendations for addressing the various issues and improving your home’s energy efficiency.

A subsequent audit may be performed at a later date to validate energy efficiency improvements.

After the energy auditor has evaluated electricity use in your home, he’ll issue an EnerGuide label provided by Natural Resources Canada that gives your home a rating. The lower your score, the better your home’s energy efficiency levels. The label contains useful information about your home’s amount of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as where the energy is used.

You’ll also get a Homeowner Information Sheet and a Renovation Upgrade Report to help guide you in improving your home’s energy usage.

How Much Does an Energy Audit Cost in Canada?

If you think energy audit costs are expensive, you might want to think again. Typically, an energy audit conducted by a professional should take around 3 to 5 hours, depending on the size of your house, and will cost on average between $300 and $500.

You should consider this a part of the overall investment in reducing your energy consumption and corresponding utility bills. And since audits are often a prerequisite to qualifying for most major government rebate and grant programs, they are usually quite a worthwhile investment.

In some cases, like with the Greener Home Program, a portion of the grant is meant to cover a portion or all of the cost of the pre and post-upgrade audits.

Can You DIY Your Home’s Energy Audit?

In most cases, you should hire the services of a professional energy advisor registered with Natural Resources Canada to examine your home’s energy usage.

Hiring a registered energy advisor is the best route to take, as they will provide a thorough home energy assessment as well as expert recommendations. They might also be your only option; for example, if your main reason for conducting an energy audit is to qualify for government rebates, you cannot do the audit yourself even if you want to.

That being said, as an ordinary homeowner you could attempt some of the steps of an energy audit to help guide your own DIY energy efficiency improvements, like sealing air leaks.

During a DIY ‘energy audit’, consider doing the following:

1. Find Air Leaks: You can simply feel for air leaks using your hand on a cold day, checking around windows and exterior doors or cracks, or you can use smoke from a stick of incense to detect airflow through gaps. If you encounter a leak, use caulk or weatherstripping to fix it.
   
2. Check Your Home’s Insulation: Look at the insulation in your attic if it’s accessible. Touch exterior walls in winter to see if they feel particularly cold. These areas may be good candidates for adding insulation.
   
3. Add Additional Window Sealing: Older windows can be a huge source of heat loss. Replacing them with newer high-efficiency windows is a great idea to lower energy consumption and improve the appearance of your house, but it can be expensive. You can buy various DIY weather sealing kits at a hardware store as a temporary solution.
   
4. Check Your Lightbulbs: Switching older lights to CFLs or especially LEDs will lower energy consumption and thus help you save money on energy bills. CFLs and LEDs also come with a longer lifespan.
   
5. Check Your Appliances: During your DIY energy audit, it’s imperative to check the energy efficiency of home appliances. If you discover that any are outdated and inefficient, consider ENERGY STAR®-certified replacements.
   
6. Invest in a Smart Thermostat: Smart thermostats are a low-cost investment that can easily pay for itself relatively quickly.
   
7. Check the damper on your fireplace: Make sure it seals tightly when you’re not using the fireplace.

Why You Should Conduct an Energy Audit for Your Home

Conducting an energy audit for your home gives you multiple benefits:

1. It helps guide you in improving your home’s energy efficiency.
2. This will increase the value of your home.
3. It will also help lower your energy bills.
4. It’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.
5. It gives you access to rebate programs that can offset or even entirely cover the cost of energy-saving home improvements.

The Bottom Line

Energy audits are an important tool in helping Canadian homeowners understand how to improve their home’s energy efficiency and save on their energy bills.

If you’re considering home retrofits and upgrades to lower your energy consumption, an energy audit is an essential first step. It can also help you qualify for government grants and home efficiency rebates.

While it does require an investment of your time and money, a Canada energy audit performed by a registered energy advisor is a worthwhile step to any energy-efficient home improvement project.

With winter fast approaching, the temperatures are starting to drop, and snow is beginning to fall. The colder it gets outside, the more you’ll have to spend on your heating bills. However, just because gas prices are high and the weather is cold doesn’t mean you can’t save money on your utility bills. 

Minimizing how much your furnace is running is one of the best ways to save money on heating costs this winter. Since we live in Canada and heating obviously isn’t optional, it may make sense to invest in a more efficient heating system or perform general maintenance to help your current system operate more efficiently. 

If you want to stay warm and cozy this winter without spending a fortune on gas, you’ve come to the right place. In addition to not using your furnace or installing a new one, there are plenty of ways to save money this winter…

This article will explore several of the best energy-saving tips. 

Lower the Temperature on Your Thermostat

As we said earlier, the easiest way to save money on heating costs is by turning down the temperature on your thermostat, thereby using your furnace less frequently. Turning down the temperature on your thermostat is also a good way to lessen your carbon footprint because your furnace won’t run as long or often. 

However, the winters can get unbearably cold in Canada, so not using your furnace is only an option during the early and late winter months when temperatures are moderate. 

On average for every degree Celsius you lower your thermostat you can expect to save approximately one to three percent on your heating costs, so it can add up. Even just setting it a few degrees lower and wearing some extra layers can make a difference over the course of the season. 

Lower the Temperature of Your Water Heater 

If lowering the temperature on your furnace isn’t too appealing, you can also try lowering the temperature of your water heater. Water heaters have thermostats that work similarly to your heating system’s thermostat. 

Lowering the temperature slightly on your water heater can help compensate for the extra money you’ll spend running your furnace during winter. 

Lowering your water temperature also reduces the risk of burning yourself or having excessively dry skin during winter. It should never be higher than 49°C or 120°F.

Change Your Furnace Filter Regularly 

Furnaces are complicated heating appliances, and there are many maintenance jobs that require a professional. However, one of the things you can do quite easily is changing your furnace filter. Your furnace filter is responsible for trapping dirt, debris, and other particles from entering your furnace and preventing them from circulating throughout your home. 

However, most furnace filters will only work for one month to one year, depending on the type of filter you have. Eventually, the filter catches so much dirt and debris that it gets clogged up and starts blocking the airflow created by your furnace. 

By simply checking your filter periodically and changing it when necessary, you’ll help your heating system operate more efficiently and use less energy.

This is because the more clogged the filter, the harder the furnace must work to circulate air, thus consuming more energy. 

Try to replace the filter at least once per quarter or even monthly if your home is very dusty or you have pets, or you have a large home for example. In some cases you may be able to vacuum clean your filter in between changing it so you don’t have to replace it as often.

Have Your Furnace Professionally Serviced

While changing your furnace filter is a cinch, there are plenty of furnace maintenance tasks you can’t do unless you have the right tools, training, and experience. 

Therefore, you should consider having your furnace professionally serviced annually, especially if it’s getting older. Also keep in mind that the warranty on some new furnaces may require an annual inspection by a professional in order to maintain full coverage.

Here are some things an HVAC professional will do when servicing your furnace. 

• Check the fan and blower motor. 
• Examine the heat exchanger. 
• Make sure you have the right amount of gas flow. 
• Ensure the wiring and electrical components on your furnace are working correctly. 
• Check your furnace vents for blockages. 
• Change your air filter if necessary. 
• Make sure the burner and lighter are working well on gas furnaces. 

In addition to these tasks, there are many other things an HVAC pro can do that you can’t. They will also advise you whether you should install a new heating system or continue with your existing one. 

So if you want to save money this winter, have your furnace inspected, maintained, and repaired as necessary by a professional.

Have Your Air Ducts Inspected 

While having your furnace inspected, you should also have your air vents and ducts checked. Air flowing through your ducts will sneak out of any crack, hole, or crevice it can find. Because most of your ducts are below your floor or above your ceilings, air that sneaks out of them is lost and wasted because you’re essentially heating an unconditioned area. 

HVAC professionals have special tests they can perform to determine how efficient your ducts are. They can also pinpoint leaks and seal them properly so that you’re utilizing all the hot air your furnace creates. 

There are even services available that are able to seal ductwork from the inside using a special process that doesn’t require direct access to the ductwork itself.

Use Ceiling Fans

While most people are familiar with using ceiling fans to cool things down, few realize you can use them during winter. Hot air rises, so the air near your ceiling is warmer than the air below. 

When a ceiling fan runs in the winter, it takes warm air from the upper part of the room and blows it downward to displace the cool air. It’s a great way to disperse hot air and utilize all the heat created by your furnace.

Install a Smart Thermostat 

Installing a smart thermostat is one of the best ways to regulate the temperature in your home. Smart thermostats will save money because they can adjust temperatures on their own, according to what you prefer. 

For example, if you typically turn your thermostat down at night or while away at work, smart thermostats can learn that behavior and adjust it on its own. Or, you can program it to turn your heating system (and air conditioning, if you have it) on and off with whatever schedule you want.

The best ones have other useful features like allowing you to monitor and adjust the temperature remotely like while away on vacation.

A smart thermostat can potentially save you as much as 10 – 20% or more on your utility bills, and so they can often pay for themselves fairly quickly.

Invest in Efficient Windows 

In terms of efficiency and heat loss, more heat gets lost through inefficient doors and windows than anything else. If your home has old windows, especially single-pane windows, there’s a good chance they’re losing a ton of heat. 

Furthermore, it’s a good idea to check the weather sealing around doors and windows at the beginning of heating season. On a colder evening you may be able to feel a draft with your hand, and you can also visually inspect gaps. 

Some low-cost weather sealing is a quick DIY fix that can make a big impact.

Installing new windows and doors is a significant investment, but it will save you big bucks during winter and summer. After all, a good way to save energy is to not waste the heat you’ve already paid for by allowing it to escape your home too quickly!

You can also consider using cheap weather insulation kits that can be found at most hardware stores. These include a thin plastic film that is sealed around older windows to imitate a double-glazed window. This can make a big difference in its insulation factor.

Have Your Insulation Checked 

Aside from windows and doors, poor insulation is a big cause of losing heat in your home. Heat naturally rises, which means that it can go floating through your ceiling and roof if you don’t adequate insulation to keep it inside. Having your attic insulation checked and replenished can save big bucks on your heating costs this winter; poorly insulated attics can be the main cause of heat loss.

Insulation in your walls is a lot harder to fix if it is not in good shape. But if you are remodeling, make sure that your walls are well insulated.

Close Heating Vents If You’re Not Using Them?

Contrary to what some people think, closing vents and doors to unused rooms and areas in your home is NOT a great way to save money on heating bills… and may in fact cost you more.

Here’s why: The fan on a typical furnace is set to push a certain amount of air through the duct system. Closing off ducts means that the fan has to push the same amount of air through a smaller opening, so it has to work harder. That means it will fail prematurely, along with associated parts like belts and bearings. It could cause other problems too, like increasing duct problems.

So if you try to save money that way, you’ll spend more on repairing your furnace.

That is, unless you have a variable-speed motor on your furnace. A variable-speed or ECM (electronically commutated motor) will adjust the furnace output appropriately to heating needs, although this can still strain your furnace. If the thermostat happens to be in a different room than the one you’re forcing air towards for instance, the furnace will sense the temperature in the other room and work harder to raise the temperature not knowing that the vents are closed to that room.

In short, it’s best to stick to some of the other tips on this list.

Utilize Your Drapes and the Sun

No matter where you are in Canada, the sun will always be a natural source of light and heat. Opening your drapes or curtains during the day allows that natural heat to enter your home like a greenhouse. 

Then, when the sun goes down, you can shut your drapes and trap the heat inside your home. Closing your drapes will also help add a layer of insulation if you have older windows. 

Use Plenty of Blankets and Warm Layers

In addition to all the other things you can do to save money on heating costs, you can also bundle up. Wearing multiple layers, having blankets handy, and wearing socks and slippers inside your home will go a long way toward keeping you warm so that you can turn the temperature down on your thermostat. 

Bundle up and cozy up on the couch with a book or Netflix!

Replace Your Old Furnace With a New One

While each of the ideas on this list is a great way to save money this winter, installing a new furnace is one of the best things you can do to lower your heating costs if you have an older and likely less-efficient furnace. 

New furnaces are more efficient than ever and can often heat your home at a fraction of the cost of older furnaces. The same goes for boilers and other types of heating systems.

Because they’re more efficient, new furnaces allow you to keep your home comfortable without lowering the temperature on your thermostat.

The amount you could save depends on a number of factors. While you may save as much as 40% on your heating bills if you have a very old and inefficient unit, realistically you should expect modest savings, but they can add up over the long term. 

Best of all though, you may be able to offset some of the cost of a new heating system with government heating & air conditioning rebates.

Final Thoughts About How to Save Money on Heating Costs

As you can see, there are many ways to lower your heating costs this winter while staying warm and comfortable. With some discipline, extra clothes and blankets, and a properly maintained heating system, you should have no problem saving money. 

However, if you’re looking for the best way to save money this winter and your furnace has been breaking down more than usual, investing in a new high-efficiency furnace can have many benefits beyond just monetary savings.