It’s that time of year again where the temperature drops and we are tucking ourselves away in our homes trying to ward off the cold air. The cold air seeps in through all sorts of nooks and crannies in our homes driving up our energy bills and costing us extra money. But not to worry! We have five money saving tips and tricks to help keep your energy costs down while putting a little more money back in your bank account during the winter!
Tip #1 – Regulate the Temperature of the Entire House
Regulating the temperature of your home is one of the most important things you can do to save money throughout the winter. Find a consistent temperature your family can agree on (somewhere between 66 and 72). You will want to remember that when you alter the temperature in your home to be warmer, your unit is working to heat the entire inside of your home that many degrees more. The lower you can set the temperature in your home, the better. The less your heating unit has to kick on, the more money you can save.
Tip #2 – Only Heat the Rooms Being Used
If you notice that only a few common areas like your living room or bedrooms are being used, make an effort to only heat those specific areas. This will allow you to be comfortable in the rooms that you are in more often. You can take it a step further and close all of the doors to the rooms that you aren’t using to trap the cold air in there and not let it escape to the rest of your house. For example, close the doors to any spare bedrooms, bathrooms, or even the basement to keep the cold air out of the rest of your home.
Tip #3 – Install a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are called smart for a reason. These thermostats think about the temperature of a home before we do, and they know exactly where to set the temperature that is most comfortable to us. Smart thermostats are a great way to save money and regulate the temperature of any home.
With a smart thermostat, you are able to control the temperature of your home directly from your phone, from wherever you are. Forget to turn the heat down before you left for work? That’s okay, you can turn it down directly from your smartphone. If you are looking to learn more about smart thermostats, continue reading our piece that discusses all of the features smart thermostats offer.
Tip #4 – Cover the Cracks on any Doors
One common area that often lets in a large amount of cold air are the cracks in the doors. Whether they are doors that are an entrance into the house or doors to each of the rooms inside, you will want to see if you can feel any drafts of cold air. Check to see if you can feel a draft coming from the bottom of the door frame. If you can physically see a gap between the door and the floor, you will want to purchase or create your own draft stopper to keep the cold air from getting inside.
For doors that are used to enter the home, you will want to seal the outside edges with weather stripping. Check if your existing door has weather stripping or if your doors are older, they may be in need of having the weather stripping replaced.
Tip #5 – Insulate your Home Very Well
If you’ve read any of our other blog posts on how to save money on energy costs, we recommend insulating your home. Making sure your home is thoroughly insulated helps keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Homes that are poorly insulated have some of the highest energy bills because the heater is continuously trying to fill the home with warm air.
Common areas within a home that need extra insulation are usually the attic and basement spaces. The upfront cost of installing insulation is more expensive than some of our other suggestions and can vary due to the size of your home, but your energy bills will benefit in the long run.
As the temperatures continue to drop, make sure you have taken the proper measures to save money on your energy costs. Implementing these little tips can add up and save you money on your energy costs over the winter season. If you are looking for alternative heating sources, please contact us! We would love to discuss our heating services with you.
