As the winter months approach, many homeowners prepare for the cold, chilly months, and the associated high cost energy bills! Instead of wasting energy and money to keep your home comfortable, try using some home energy saving tips to reduce waste and cost, while still enjoying a comfortable, cozy home. Here are 5 tips for heating your home in winter for less money.
Get rid of drafts. Often drafts will seep in from under your doorways, allowing cold winter air in, and allowing comfortable warm air out. These drafts also tamper with your thermostat sensor since it thinks the entire house is colder than it actually is, causing your heating system to overwork. When your heating system works harder, it is wasting additional energy and costing your more money every month on your energy bills. To help reduce drafts and save money, consider buying or making a draft snake. These attach just under your door and are a barrier between the cold and the inside of your home. You can even use a makeshift draft snake by rolling up an old towel and propping it under the draft door.
Replace furnace filters in your home. These should be changed or cleaned at least once a month during the winter months for best results and to ensure that your furnace works well for years to come so you can save money by not needing a pricey replacement. When the furnace filter is clogged or dirty, airflow is restricted and so your system uses more energy to heat your home. Keep track of replacement dates on a calendar so that you can be more diligent about changing filters in a timely manner. You may also consider purchasing a permanent filter such as a HEPA or Electrostatic filter, which will cost a bit more upfront but will save you in time and energy. These filters are not only easier to use, but also they are much better at trapping bacteria, pollen, viruses and mold that can be dangerous for your family to inhale.
Utilize ceiling fans in your home. Often people think fans are meant to cool us off in the summer months, but in actuality they are very effective in helping to warm up an entire home. In the winter, switch the blade direction from counterclockwise to clockwise. This motion allows the blades to pull warm air that has risen, down to floor level. This circulated the air for an even temperature throughout a space and will help reduce your energy bills since your heater will not have to use as much energy to get the room to your desired temperature.
Reduce the temperature on your hot water heater. Typically, conventional water heaters are set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, however most homes do not need their water that hot for everyday use. Even though it is not necessary, when the water heater is set that high, you are wasting money and potentially hurting yourself with overly heated water in the shower. To cut on costs and keep your water at a more comfortable temperate, lower the temperature of your water heater to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. This can help you to reduce your energy costs by anywhere between 6-10%.
Be aware of your thermostat settings. Many people forget to lower the settings or turn the thermostat off when they will be out of the house for errands or during the workday. It is important that your heater isn’t constantly running while you are not in the house to enjoy the comfortable temperature. An even better option is to install a programmable thermostat in your home. This thermostat allows you to set specific temperatures for certain times of day ahead of time so that the thermostat will automatically adjust based on the time of day. It can also turn on about 30 minutes before you arrive home from work, so that the heater isn’t working all day while you are away, but so that you can still come home to a toasty warm and comfortable house.
Implementing all of these home energy saving tips will help you to heat your home comfortably while also allowing you to save a considerable amount of money each month on your energy bills. Making conscious, energy saving choices will make all the difference
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