The arrival of cold weather has many groaning for numerous reasons, including higher energy bills. Rather than constantly cranking your heating system and weeping every time you receive your bill this winter, utilize a few key winter energy-saving tips.

The knowledgeable and friendly team at Sunshine Air Conditioning and Heating in Yorktown Heights, NY, regularly provides heating and cooling tips to clients, and they offer the following tips to keep your energy bills reasonable as the weather outside gets frightful:

• Use Natural Heat: Keep curtains and drapes open on south-facing windows to make use of the sun’s heat. Close them at night to reduce “cold window chill.”
• Winterize Windows: Add caulk or other weatherstripping materials to windows as needed to seal air leaks and subsequently reduce energy-sucking drafts. You’ll save money on your energy bills and enjoy a much more comfortable home.
• Set Your Thermostat: Set your thermostat as low as possible when at home to keep bills low. Set it even lower at night or when not at home and save about 10% a year on heating and cooling bills. Sunshine Air Conditioning and Heating recommends investing in a programmable thermostat for the best results.

• Maintain Your Heating System: Schedule a heating system check this fall to ensure yours is working at optimal levels. A malfunctioning system easily results in higher energy bills, so have yours checked and don’t forget to replace the furnace filter. Replace it about once a month to keep bills low and prevent premature heating system aging.

The heating and cooling experts at Sunshine Air Conditioning and Heating also recommend making use of your fireplace if you have one, and to keep the damper closed when not in use to avoid heat loss.

For more heating and cooling tips or to schedule a maintenance check, please contact Sunshine Air Conditioning and Heating today. Call (914) 245-2050 or visit their website.