You wouldn’t let your hard earned money float away in the cold, winter wind, but that is what you are doing when your home is not an energy efficient one. The Energy Education Council encourages you to learn about ways you can keep more money in your bank and heat in your home.
Home heating efficiency all starts with your heating unit. Make sure the furnace and heaters are in good working order, and have a professional check and service your furnace system to ensure peak efficiency and safety.
Clean or replace your furnace filter every month to save energy and improve heat circulation. Dust and dirt slow down air flow. This makes the system work harder, which wastes energy and money.
Seal all air leaks around your home. Some common areas to find air leaks include around: windows, doors, the attic hatch, wiring holes, plumbing vents, furnace vents, dryer vents, and recessed lighting.
Many of these air leaks you can easily fix yourself with caulking or weather stripping, which is a simple and inexpensive way to boost your home’s efficiency and cut energy costs year round. However, some air leaks might need a contractor’s help to repair.
Make sure walls, attics, and flooring—especially above unheated spaces such as crawl spaces and garages—are properly insulated. Also be sure to repair any leaks on the roof.
Take advantage of natural sunlight. Open the curtains or blinds during the day to let the sun warm up your home. Just remember to close them at night to prevent chilly air from coming in through the glass.
If you haven’t already, replace window screens with storm windows. This makes your windows more energy efficient. If you have older or leaky windows that you cannot replace, use temporary fixes such as plastic film kits that create the effect of an interior storm window.
If you have a fireplace, remember to close the damper when the fireplace is not in use. Install a heat air exchange system that blows warm air into the room for when a fire is crackling in the hearth. If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
Finally, when it comes time to replace your heating system, investing in energy efficient equipment will help you save money on heating bills.
For more information on home heating efficiency, visit EnergyEdCouncil.org.
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