Winter is upon us and over the next few months heating your home could cost you a considerable amount of money, and not provide the heat you need to keep your residence warm. Here are a few things you should check and have fixed if needed.
Save Money Heating Your Home This Winter
• Check all windows in your home for broken seals that allow cold air to enter or warm air to escape outdoors. If you find leaks, fix or have them repaired.
• Lower your thermostat to 68-70 degrees. This small change in temperature will save approximately 5% on your heating bill. If you are going out-of-town for a few days or longer, lower the thermostat a little more, but do not turn it completely off. You do not want pipes to freeze, and freezing weather will kill foliage in the home. If you have summer properties, you will want to remember to shut the water off and drain the pipes for the winter season to stop any pipes from freezing and bursting during the cold months.
• Lower the water heater temperature from “High” to “Normal”. You will not notice the difference. The Normal temperature is approximately 120 degrees, and will not affect showers or baths, washing clothes or dishes.
• Dress comfortably around the house and remembering those cozy evenings using Grandma’s afghan will bring back wonderful memories while keeping you warm.
• Have your furnace filters changed and your furnace serviced to ensure it is running properly and not in need of repair.
• If you are planning on replacing any major appliances in your home it would be a good time to replace them with EnergyStar appliances which will add to the electric usage savings.
• Check the weather-stripping around exterior doors. As homes settle with the expansion of heat and cold, minor leaks can appear around the doors exposed to the outside. Replace the weather-stripping or have a specialist do the work for you.
Having your cooling and heating service representative out to inspect your home for leakage of cold air entering the home, or warm air escaping will add to your winter savings on heating expense. Ensure the only areas you are heating are inside your home.
Other Things You Can Do To Add Warmth To Your Home
• When you see the sun shining outside, open the drapes and let the sun outside warm your home and brighten the room.
• Try not to have seating areas in the living and dining rooms against exterior walls. Many times exterior walls retain the coldness of the outdoors. Move the couch and chairs away from the wall to create a warm, cozy area.
• If you haven’t used your fireplace all summer, check the flue or chimney to ensure there is no blockage before lighting a fire.
• Ensure the fireplace flue is open and rodents haven’t used this space to build a nest for the winter while you were enjoying the summer weather.
One of the best suggestion yet is to contact your cooling and heating service representative like Dr. Duct and have your home inspection performed before winter settles in and start the winter season ensured your home is prepared for any weather that blows your way.