How to Keep Your Heating Bill Low This Winter in Albuquerque
Albuquerque winters are full of contrasts. Afternoons can be bright and mild, then temperatures drop sharply after sunset, and the East Mountains get colder still. Those swings keep your heating system cycling on and off all season. If you want to keep your heating bill low this winter, the best approach works with the high desert climate instead of against it.
Some of the most effective steps here are specific to Albuquerque homes, like using the winter sun to your advantage and sealing off a swamp cooler that’s letting warm air escape. Others are simple habits that help any heating system run more efficiently.
Strongbuilt Plumbing & Air is veteran founded and has served Albuquerque and the surrounding area since 2015. Here’s what our team recommends.
What Is the Best Way to Keep Your Heating Bill Low in Albuquerque?
The best way to keep your heating bill low in Albuquerque is to let the winter sun help warm your home, seal the drafts that pull heat outside, use moderate thermostat settings, and keep your heating system maintained. Together, these steps reduce how long your system runs each day.
How Can Albuquerque’s Sunshine Help Lower Heating Costs?
Albuquerque gets plenty of sun in winter, and south- and west-facing windows can bring in real warmth during the day. Open blinds and curtains on those windows in the morning and afternoon, then close them at dusk to hold that heat inside as temperatures drop.
Is Your Swamp Cooler Letting Heat Escape?
A swamp cooler that hasn’t been winterized can let warm air escape through its vent and pull cold air into your home. Because evaporative coolers sit on the roof or an exterior wall with a direct opening into your ductwork or ceiling, they’re a common source of winter drafts in Albuquerque homes.
- Close the Damper or Vent: If your cooler connects to your ductwork or has a ceiling vent, close the damper so heated air can’t flow up and out.
- Cover the Indoor Vent: An insulated vent cover on the ceiling or wall register adds another layer of protection against drafts.
- Cover the Cooler Outside: A fitted cooler cover helps block wind and cold air at the source.
- Shut Off and Drain the Water Line: The small water line that feeds your cooler can freeze and crack in cold weather. Shut it off and drain it before the first hard freeze.
Where Else Is Your Home Losing Heat?
Beyond the swamp cooler, most homes lose heat through the roof, drafty doors and windows, and an open fireplace damper. A few targeted fixes can make a noticeable difference.
- Is My Roof Insulated Well Enough? Many Albuquerque homes have flat or low-slope roofs with limited space for insulation, which lets heat escape quickly. Adding insulation where possible helps your home hold the heat you’ve already paid for.
- Are Drafty Doors and Windows Raising My Bill? Gaps around doors and windows let cold air in and warm air out. Weatherstripping and caulking are simple, low-cost fixes for most of them.
- Does My Fireplace Waste Heat? An open fireplace damper works like an open window. Close it whenever the fireplace isn’t in use.
How Should You Set Your Thermostat in Winter?
Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature while you’re home and lower it a few degrees at night and when you’re away. With a heat pump, smaller adjustments usually work better than large swings, since a big setback can make the system rely on backup heat to catch up.
Does Heating Maintenance Lower Your Bill?
Yes. A clean, properly adjusted furnace, boiler, or heat pump runs more efficiently and is less likely to break down during a cold snap. During a maintenance visit, our technicians will clean and inspect your system, check airflow and safety controls, and point out anything that’s driving up your energy use.
Our maintenance plan keeps those visits on schedule every year, so your system stays efficient season after season. Change or check your air filter monthly between visits, too.
Is Your Water Heater Adding to Your Winter Bill?
Your water heater works harder in winter because incoming water is colder. Flushing sediment from the tank once a year and insulating exposed hot water pipes in the garage or crawlspace can help it run more efficiently.
Stay Warm and Save This Winter
Keeping your heating bill low in Albuquerque comes down to using the sun, sealing drafts, and keeping your system in good shape. Start with the easy steps this week, and call us when you’re ready for a tune-up.
Strongbuilt offers upfront pricing, fully stocked trucks, and 24/7 live answering and emergency service. Military discounts and financing options are also available. Call (505) 531-6053 or schedule online.
We proudly serve Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, North Valley, South Valley, Paradise Hills, Sandia Heights, Sandia Park, Cedar Crest, Tijeras, and the surrounding area.