How to Be Energy Efficient This Winter

A more energy-efficient home means lower heating bills and more consistent comfort. Louisiana winters are mild compared to the rest of the country, but those cold snaps in January and February can still drive up your Entergy bill if your system and your house aren’t working together. Here’s how to keep energy waste to a minimum.

Get Your Furnace Inspected Before You Need It

Schedule a tune-up before the first cold front hits. A technician will clean the burners, check the heat exchanger for cracks, replace the air filter, and make sure the blower motor isn’t caked with dust. A dirty system works harder than it has to, and that shows up on your bill.

Use Your Thermostat Strategically

Set it to around 68 degrees when you’re home and drop it to 62 when you leave for work or go to bed. Every degree you lower the thermostat saves roughly 1-3% on your heating costs. A programmable or smart thermostat handles this automatically so you don’t have to remember.

The house will warm back up in just a few minutes when the heat kicks on, so there’s no reason to keep it running full blast while nobody’s there.

Check Your Insulation and Seal Air Leaks

A lot of older Acadiana homes (pier-and-beam construction, single-pane windows) lose heat fast. Insulation in the attic is the biggest factor. If your attic insulation is less than 10 inches deep, adding more is one of the highest-return upgrades you can make.

Beyond insulation, check for air leaks around windows, doors, and where pipes or wires enter the house. A tube of caulk and a pack of weatherstripping cost a few dollars and can make a noticeable difference in how evenly your house heats.

Keep Vents Clear

Furniture, curtains, or rugs blocking your supply vents force the system to push harder to move air. Walk through the house and make sure every vent has at least a foot of clearance. It’s a free fix that people overlook.

If your heating bills are higher than they should be, or if some rooms in your house are always colder than others, give us a call at (337) 893-5646. We’ve been helping Acadiana homeowners get more out of their heating systems since 1956, and we can figure out where the problem is.