Are you in need of some effective energy-saving tips? To stay comfortable through a Southern Alberta winter, with its harsh winds and frigid temperatures, homeowners have to use their heating systems a lot. And while higher energy bills are a reality for homeowners in our region, you can control heating costs, at least to some degree, by incorporating the energy-saving measures below throughout your home.

Most of the time, your home will sail through the seasons without as much as a hiccup. It’s helpful to know, however, when a situation requires an HVAC contractor and who to call. If you see evidence of any of the problems below, you should call an expert as soon as possible:

Knowing how your home heating systems converge to enhance efficiency can go a long way towards improving the overall efficiency of your home and reducing your energy bills in the process, which is of primary importance for the majority of Calgary homeowners. Most heating systems have three primary components: the thermostat, the furnace, and the duct work. Each component can be optimized to produce savings.

While technology is bound to fail regardless of precautionary measures, it’s still important to keep your furnace system in the best shape possible with regular preventive maintenance to endure Calgary’s harsh winter conditions. However, when a system does fail, it’s also important to know what to do next to avoid the cost of a service call and the potential embarrassment when the problem is a simple fix. Use these furnace troubleshooting tips when you find yourself in a bind:

Ventilation in the attic is a significant contributor to a healthy, energy-efficient home. Upgrading your home’s attic ventilation can lead to several benefits that will enhance your quality of life.

One of the best, low-cost ways to reduce your overall heating costs is to manage your home heating load. Specifically, this is the amount of heat your furnace system has to generate each day in order to maintain a comfortable home atmosphere. Do this, and your heating bills will decrease, raising the overall efficiency of your current system.

Does the idea of pollutants lurking around inside your home bother you? Does their presence trigger health-related issues, such as allergies or asthma? If so, you can do something about it by installing Ultraviolet (UV) lights in your HVAC system to boost the quality of your home’s air and enhance your health all year long.

If you suspect that your home is losing energy, one of the best things to address first is your home’s attic insulation. Upgrade insulation here and you’ll see significant energy savings.

Just like a forced-air furnace or heat-pump system requires regular inspection and maintenance to operate efficiently, so does a boiler system. With regularly scheduled maintenance, you can ensure long life for your boiler, as well as peak efficiency.

There are several reasons a homeowner may decide to replace a furnace. If utility bills are high or the furnace requires major repairs, upgrading to a new furnace will provide relief. This scenario also gives you some time to evaluate your choices. If your furnace suddenly breaks down during winter, you’ll have less time to make a decision; however, in either scenario, it is important to consider furnace efficiency ratings.

Tankless water heaters can be a significant energy saver for homeowners because they don’t rely on a storage tank to keep water heated throughout the day. Conventional tank systems can be subject to significant standby losses, a factor that tankless systems bypass through their instantaneous ability to heat water. Before you purchase a system, be sure to take sizing factors into account.