While Tucson’s days often stay mild through the winter, desert nights can be a different story. Temperatures can plummet into the 30s or even lower, making a warm home essential for comfort. At the same time, many homeowners want to keep residential heating costs under control. B & J Refrigeration is here to help you strike the right balance between efficiency and comfort with a few strategic adjustments tailored to our desert climate.
Setting Smart Thermostat Schedules
One of the simplest ways to save energy while staying comfortable is by using a smart thermostat. B & J Refrigeration recommends setting your thermostat to around 68 degrees when you’re at home and awake. When you go to sleep, or if the house is empty, lowering the temperature to 60–65 degrees can significantly reduce energy use without sacrificing comfort. Smart thermostats make this process effortless by automatically adjusting temperatures based on your schedule, ensuring warmth when you need it and savings when you don’t.
Strengthening Insulation for Steady Warmth
Proper insulation makes a big difference in maintaining a comfortable home. Insulation acts as a barrier, keeping the heat you pay for inside your home during chilly nights. Older homes may benefit from adding insulation in attics, walls, or crawl spaces. With better insulation, your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain steady temperatures, resulting in lower energy bills and a longer lifespan for your HVAC system.
Sealing Drafts and Weatherproofing
Gaps around doors, windows, and vents can let valuable warm air escape. Weather-sealing is an affordable and highly effective way to improve efficiency. By adding door sweeps, caulking around windows, or installing weatherstripping, you reduce drafts that make rooms feel colder than they are. This will keep your home warmer and help your HVAC heating system run more efficiently during those cold desert nights.
Using Ceiling Fans to Your Advantage
Many homeowners think of ceiling fans as strictly a summer tool, but they’re also useful in winter. By reversing your ceiling fan’s direction to spin clockwise on a low setting, you can gently push warm air that rises to the ceiling back down into the living space. This simple adjustment helps even out temperatures in the home, allowing you to stay cozy without turning up the thermostat.
Developing Energy-Smart Habits
Along with mechanical improvements, small daily habits go a long way toward balancing comfort and efficiency. Opening curtains during sunny winter days lets natural warmth flow in, while closing them at night helps trap heat inside. Wearing layers and using cozy blankets in the evening also reduces the temptation to crank up the thermostat unnecessarily. These lifestyle adjustments complement your heating system and reduce strain on it.
Living in Tucson means navigating the contrast between sunny days and chilly desert nights. At B & J Refrigeration, we specialize in helping homeowners make the most of their HVAC in Tucson. From heating maintenance to efficiency upgrades, our team ensures your home stays cozy through every cool desert night. Contact us today to schedule your seasonal service and enjoy comfort you can count on.