Energy-Saving Tips for Fall and Winter
Energy-Saving Tips for Fall and Winter
November 2020 by Heartland Roofing Siding and Windows
As you plan to keep warm during the cool fall and cold winter months, you can save on energy costs by taking simple measures for your home. Try to keep the house warm while locking the cold outside. The tips shared in this article can be used daily as they are simple and affordable actions you can take to keep your home warm.
The first thing you need to do is conduct an energy audit of your home if you haven’t yet. An energy audit helps you identify areas you can save the most. It will also help you determine whether you need to make bigger investments for long-term energy saving. Based on your audit and the nature of your home, you can save energy and electricity costs this fall and winter by implementing the following tips:
- Utilize Heat From the Sun
The heat from the sun is free for use and allows you to save energy if you use it in the right way. During the day, open curtains on the windows facing south to allow sunlight to heat up your home in a natural way. Make sure you close them early in the evening and night when it is chilly to reduce the amount of cold entering the house. - Cover Drafty Windows
You could be losing a lot of heat through drafty windows. During the cold winter months, use clear and heavy-duty plastic sheets to cover openings in your window frames. You can also tape plastic film and seal the openings tightly to reduce infiltration. Consider installing tight-fitting and insulating shades or drapes on the windows, which feel drafty after weatherizing. - Find and Seal Leaks
Any leaks in your home are a source of energy loss. Take time to find and seal air leaks in your house, especially around utility cut-through for pipes, gains in recessed lights in the insulated ceiling, gaps around chimneys, and unfinished spaced behind closets and cupboards. You may add weather-stripping and caulk to seal air leaks if your windows and doors are leaky. - Adjust the House Temperature
The temperature in your home should be ideal for the time of the day and activities you are engaged in. If you are home and awake, try setting your thermostat as low as you can. At night when you are asleep or when you are out of the house, setting your thermostat to around 10 – 15 degrees can save you more than 10% on your heating and cooling bills. Nowadays, you can even install a programmable or smart thermostat that allows you to automatically set the temperature depending on the time of day. - Reduce Heat Loss from the Fireplace
You can take a few measures to reduce heat loss from your fireplace. When you use the fireplace, open the damper in the bottom in the bottom of the firebox. You can also open the nearest windows about 1 inch and the door leading to the room. Then lower the thermostat setting to about 50 or 550 F. When there is no fire burning, always keep the fireplace damper closed.For those who never use the fireplace, it is advisable to plug and seal the chimney flue. However, if you use the fireplace regularly, install a heat-air exchange system and tempered glass doors to ensure warm air is blown back into the room. You may also acquire C-shaped metal grates to draw cool air from the room into the fireplace while circulating warm air into the room. Other measures you may take include adding caulking around the hearth of the fireplace and ensuring the fireplace flue damper is snugly sealed. - Maintain Your Heating System
You could be using lots of energy and incurring extra costs if your heating system is inefficient. Schedule for servicing on a regular basis to ensure everything is working effectively. Replace your furnace and haring pump filters once every month or as needed. Also, clean the wood and pellet-burning heaters vents on a regular basis to ensure the home is heated properly. - Lower Holiday Lighting Costs
You can save on more energy by keeping your holiday lighting costs minimal. LED light strings provide a budget way of decorating the home for winter. - Reduce the Cost of Heating Water
Save extra electricity cost by turning down the water heater temperature to 1200 F warm setting. The setting allows you to save energy while avoiding scalding your hands.
Windows
While most of the tips shared here can qualify as DIYs, a professional will make sure everything is done the right way. Heartland Roofing, Siding, and Windows is a general contractor specializing in roofing, siding, windows, and gutters.
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