How to stay warm while keeping utility bills low

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCHM) – With temperatures getting colder in central Ohio, many are turning on their heat for the first time since last winter.

Experts at AEP Ohio and Atlas Butler Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing said regular maintenance of home heating systems is important to keep you warm and utility bills low.

“Maintenance is the biggest key for making your equipment last as long as possible and make sure that it will function when we do get to those single digits or negative temperatures,” Atlas Butler HVAC Team Leader Justin Smith said.

Smith said his team has been busy over the last few days as people turn their furnaces on.

“All of the calls we get at this time of year are they try to run it for the first time, haven’t changed the filter in a few months, and then the furnace doesn't run or it runs for a short period of time,” Smith said.

He said simply changing furnace filters will help in most situations.

Smith also said that before it gets colder, now is a good time to get a professional out to your house to make sure things are running smoothly.

“You get your oil changed on your car and make sure your car is working okay, but when it comes to your HVAC system, that is the hardest working system in your house, sometimes that gets overlooked,” Smith said.

Keeping systems maintained is one way to conserve energy and save money.

Experts at AEP Ohio said there are some easy things people can do at every day.

“You can open your blinds to allow natural sunlight to help your home, close those same blinds at night to retain the heat within the room,” AEP Director of Operations Don Chesler said. “You also want to make sure that your ceiling fans are rotating clockwise, that pushes the heat down into the room.”

Chesler said another way to save energy and money is to keep your home’s thermostat set at or below 68 degrees.

“Your usage and the amount you pay on your bill are tightly correlated,” Chesler said.