Money Saving Winter Tips for Your Home

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home.” The transition period between the beginning of fall and the first days of cold weather is the perfect time to evaluate your home’s energy efficiency, check your home’s weather resiliency, and service your heating system.

Things You can do to Save on Your Heating Costs

• Set your thermostat as low as comfortably possible. The lower the setting, the lower the costs.
• Turn your thermostat down 5°F to 10°F at bedtime or when no one is home. Setting the thermostat to 60°F makes a big difference.
• After baking or using your oven, leave the oven door open a crack. This warms your kitchen and its surrounding rooms, giving your furnace a bit of a break.
• During the day, keep draperies, curtains, blinds, and shades open on south-facing windows. This lets in heat from the sun’s rays.
• Tape and seal leaks in your ductwork.
• Caulk and weather strip all windows and doors.
• Close all draperies, curtains, blinds, and shades at night.
• If you have a fireplace, make sure it has a tight-fitting flue damper and that it’s in the closed position.
• Close any vents and doors on unused rooms.
• In the rooms you use, make sure your registers/vents are open and not obstructed by furniture.
• Clean or replace filters once a month, or per the manufacturer’s specifications.
• Clean warm air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed.
• Install storm or thermal windows and doors.
• If you don’t have them, consider installing ceiling fans with reversible motors. Fans push warm air that collects at ceiling level back down into the room.
• Install a whole-home humidifier to prevent dryness and static electricity.
• Dress warmly inside or cuddle up with a blanket.
• Cold feet can make your body feel cold. Make a point of wearing socks around the house.
• Don’t use bathroom or kitchen ventilation fans when they aren’t needed.
• Throw a party! The more people in a room, the warmer it will be.