Winter is officially upon us, which means we must deal with high heating costs and high energy bills. The impact of inflation means that money is tighter than ever for many families. As a result, many homeowners are constantly searching for any ways that they can keep their energy costs lower, and this article will show you some of the most effective options for achieving this goal.
Make Sure Windows and Exterior Doors Aren’t Leaking
Exterior doors and windows are the primary sources of wintertime heat loss in most homes. Poorly sealed or poorly insulated windows and doors can decrease the energy efficiency of a home by more than 20%. This is because they will allow significant amounts of heat to escape.Re-caulking any cracks or gaps around the frames of your windows and doors can make a major difference. If you can feel cold air coming in at the bottom of any window or door, it’s a sign that the weather-stripping needs to be replaced. However, you can also limit the amount of cold air that leaks by stuffing a towel at the bottom of the window or door, but this is obviously only a temporary fix. If you have single-pane windows, you can also minimize this heat loss by sealing them with plastic. Taking these basic steps will improve the energy efficiency in your home by helping it stay warmer and reducing how much your heating system must run.
Check the Air Filter in Your HVAC System
HVAC air filters should be replaced every three months at the very minimum. However, you’ll often need to replace yours more often in times when your heating system gets much more use. This is why experts recommend checking the filter monthly. If the filter looks dark colored or is black, you should replace it as soon as possible. Running your heating system with a dirty filter greatly reduces its effectiveness and leads to much higher energy usage. Even if the filter is only partially dirty, replacing it can make a significant difference and is a straightforward way to save some money.
Keep Curtains, Blinds and Drapes Open During the Day
Although windows can be a major source of heat loss, they can also be a big contributor to heat gain during the day when the sun is shining. If you keep your curtains, blinds and drapes closed during the day, you’re missing out on lots of free heat. When you leave your window coverings open when the sun is out, the sunlight will help to keep your home warmer. This means your heating system won’t need to run as much during the day and your energy bills will be a bit lower. However, it is also a good idea to close your window coverings once the sun goes down to help block out some of the cold. This is especially effective if you have heavy or insulated curtains or drapes.
Adjust or Program Your Thermostat
The temperature that you have your thermostat set to is one of the biggest determining factors in how high your heating costs are. If you typically set your thermostat to 70 degrees, switching it to 68 degrees will typically lower your heating costs by 2-6%,
Keep Interior Doors and Heating Vents Open
One major mistake many people make is thinking that they can make their heating more effective and save energy by closing the doors to unused rooms and/or shutting the heating vents in those rooms. The fact is that central heating works most effectively when all the interior doors and supply vents are open. If too many doors in the home are closed, it obstructs the airflow in the house. Having proper airflow is one of the most crucial factors in how effective a heating system works and how much energy it uses. Closing more than a few supply vents will also greatly decrease the effectiveness and efficiency of your heating system. When vents are closed, it creates more air resistance inside the ducts. This resistance makes it much more difficult for the blower to move the heated air around the home and causes it to use more energy. If air can’t circulate through the system properly, it will heat much more slowly and use more energy.
Leave Any Ceiling Fans in Your Home Running
Most homes have forced-air heating systems that run on either a furnace or heat pump. One of the biggest issues with forced-air heating is that all the warm air it produces rises and settles on the ceilings. This means that the air down lower in every room stays a bit cooler and quickly cools down even further when the system shuts off. As a result, the heating system needs to run more often to maintain the proper temperature. This is where having ceiling fans can be a huge help. When a ceiling fan spins in the reverse clockwise direction, it creates an updraft. This forces the hotter air up near the ceiling downward, which helps to make the room feel warmer. If you have ceiling fans in your living room or the rooms you occupy most, this warming effect enables you to turn your heating down by a few degrees without any noticeable difference in temperature or comfort.
Switch to LED Light Bulbs
Lighting typically accounts for approximately 15% of a home’s total electricity usage. Although the US completely banned the sale of traditional incandescent light bulbs in August 2023, they are still used in many homes. Many homes also use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Switching from incandescent or CFL light bulbs to LEDs can make a major difference in your energy bills. LED light bulbs use between 75% and 90% less electricity than incandescent bulbs and around 50% less energy than comparable CFL bulbs. According to the US Department of Energy, switching all the lights in your home to LEDs will save you just over $200 a year on average. If you have a larger home with lots of additional lighting, you’ll obviously end up saving even more.
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Change the filter regularly – at least once a month during the summer, but more often if you have pets or other dusty conditions.