Winter has come, the temperature has dropped, and we all are looking to keep warm. Though it is nice to stay warm and toasty during harsh winter weather, it can cause a near heart attack when you receive your next energy bill. Thankfully, there are some quick and easy steps that you can take to keep your home warm and your heating bill low.
Find and Fix Air Leaks
No matter when your home was built, we all have those rooms that are colder than the rest of the house. The main cause of drafts in your home are air leaks. These leaks cause cold air to enter into your home and heat to escape. A main area where air leaks is your basement. Be sure to inspect any area where there is ductwork or pipes leading outside, as there may be gaps. Also check your windows for possible cracked or broken seals. Once found, you can use caulk to repair any leaks.
Program Your Thermostat
When trying to control the price of your energy bill, many homeowners try to limit their home heating use. In all actuality, you may be using more energy by continuously turning your heating system on and off. The best way to save on energy is to keep your thermostat on a schedule. Try to keep your home at or slightly below 68 degrees when you are not home for 6 hours or more. By having your home fairly warm, you will save energy when you need to turn up the heat.
Have Your HVAC System Inspected
Like with any other appliance, regular maintenance of your HVAC is required to keep it running efficiently. Although it is already winter and you may have experienced your first snowfall, you can still schedule an HVAC contractor to inspect your unit. It is also important to replace your furnace filter every month. Don’t think you can remember? No worries; you can use a HEPA filter which will cut down on the number of filters you need to replace.
Insulate and Adjust Your Water Heater
Hot water heaters can make up anywhere from 14% – 25% of your energy bill. Most of the energy used is to keep the water in the heater hot. You can cut down on your energy usage by adjusting the temperature on your water heater. By setting it at or around 120 degrees, you can keep your hot showers without scalding yourself. You can also cut down on the energy used by insulating your water heater with an insulating jacket or other insulation to keep a more consistent temperature.
Photo credits: Top © Julia Pivovarova / Fotolia. Middle © Franz Pfluegl / Fotolia. Bottom © The Tochilin’s / Fotolia.
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