In the winter months, energy bills can go up quite a bit because of the need to use extra heating, especially at night or during winter storms. Did you know that you could lose up to 30% of your heating system’s heat by not winterizing your home? No matter how great of an energy efficient heating system you have installed in your home, your bills won’t go down if a good percentage of that heat escapes. It’s not too hard to winterize your home, and most homeowners find that they can conduct a quick inspection and winterization in one weekend during the fall season.
Weather Strip Windows and Doors
The biggest loss of heat comes from drafty windows and doors. Drafts bring cool air into your home and suck out warm air. Drafts also affect the efficiency of your thermostat, causing it to read cooler temperatures which results in your heating system running longer than necessary. If you’ve been wondering why your energy efficient heating system isn’t saving you any money, it’s time to see if you have a drafty home.
If you feel cool air coming from windows or doors, most likely you have areas that need weather stripping or caulking. An easy solution for a front or back door that doesn’t seal to the ground like it needs to is to roll a long towel and place in front of the door at night or when not using the door frequently.
Reverse Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans aren’t just for cooling off a room. In the winter, you can reverse the motion of your ceiling fans to effectively push warm air back down into the room. Heat naturally rises, so running a ceiling fan on low in reverse will help to keep the natural heat in the room from escaping. Just make sure you know the difference between the direction your fan should go for cooling and for heating.
Get a Heating System Tune Up
To reduce energy bills in the winter, have your heating system looked at by a certified HVAC technician. He or she can assess your energy efficient heating system, check filters, seal ductwork, and insure that everything’s running smoothly. It doesn’t help to invest in an energy efficient system if you’re letting most of the heat escape. With simple winterizing and preventative maintenance of your system, you can reduce energy bills and stay comfortable all winter.
