Keeping Your House Warmer And Energy Efficient
Even at the best of times, it’s hard to stay warm in the winter, but this year seems to have brought colder than normal temperatures and it’s easy to get caught off guard. We want you to have a nice and warm home this winter so we’re going to cover some basic tips and strategies that you can start doing today to help get your home warmer and keep it that way. Enjoy!
Install Draft Preventers For Your Doors
These guys can really help save you a lot of money. If you have several doors that lead directly to the outside in your home, then you may want to buy a couple of these to lay at the foot of your doors, especially ones that are infrequently used in the winter, to stop cold air from getting in and to keep your warm air from getting out.
Check For Broken Seals In General
While you’re setting up your doors with draft preventers, you may want to check the other draft prone areas in your home like windows, mail slots, and skylights. Check to see if all of your windows are closing completely and properly and that there is a proper seal between you and the outside world. If your front door has an open mail slot or doggy door, you may want to consider blocking it up for the winter to prevent it from letting cold air in all winter long.
Smart Thermostat
They have definitely come down in price, but they still can be a little spendy, however getting a smart thermostat can be a huge savings for your energy bills! After a while, it will definitely pay for itself over and over again. A smart thermostat can be programmed to help keep your home the optimal temperature all night and day long while allowing you the peace of mind of not having to constantly fiddle with the thermostat. With a smart thermostat you can just set it and forget it.
Reverse Ceiling Fans
Don’t forget to reverse your ceiling fans in the winter and to run them in the winter too. If your fans are running in the right direction, then they will help to distribute warm air all throughout your house. Give it a try!
Bake More!
It’s easy to get into the habit of using the microwave for every meal, but if you can spare a few more minutes at each mealtime, then using your oven during the winter is a great way to enjoy fresh baked food while also keeping your home warm! Sometimes it takes less energy to power your oven than it does your home’s HVAC system so baking more often just makes good dollars and sense.
Make Sure Your Floor Vents (Heating Vents) Are Unclogged And Clean
This winter, go around the floor of your home and inspect each HVAC vent. Look at the vents and make sure that they are set to the open position and that they are free of clogs, damage, and obstructions. Take each vent off and use a small flashlight to inspect the HVAC pipes below. Make sure that there are no clogs in there and that they are able to push air freely. You will be surprised how often each room will have a blocked or broken vent that could be costing you money on your heating each year.
