Staying Warm & Saving Energy This Winter – Is It Possible?
As winter comes ever closer in North San Antonio, TX, is your home ready? The winter season is costly enough, with holidays and special events. Don’t let heating maintenance add to your expenses. You may be concerned that you will have to sacrifice your warmth to save money. That’s not true. There are a number of steps that you can take to be hot in your home and save money at the same time.
Do you have a programmable thermostat or a zone thermostat? This kind of on-demand heating lets you control when and where you need heat and minimize waste. There is no need to heat your home as much during hours that you’re not there or in rooms that are rarely used.
Here are some other ways that you can boost your home’s energy efficiency.
Windows and Insulation
You may not realize it, but your windows are made up of tiny pores, which are the perfect conduit for warm air to escape. Your best bet to seal those up is to hand window film right on the window pane itself.
You simply tape the film in place on the frame and fit it firmly against the window frame adhere it with heat (use your hair dryer).
Another great trick is to hang insulated curtains. These will keep the cold air out at night, but let warmth in during the day when you open them. They can spruce up your decor too.
Run Your Ceiling Fan All Year
Don’t turn the ceiling fan off, just because it is the winter. In fact, keeping the fan running is a great way to circulate heat and give your furnace a break.
You do need to reverse the direction of the blades to gather warm air as it rises and push it back down into the room.
The blades need to be running counter-clockwise for this to work. You can even turn your furnace down a couple of degrees to get some cost savings but still stay warm and toasty.
Caulk Your Windows
Even the most novice DIY homeowner can apply caulking to window frames.
All the motivation you need is the knowledge that you’ll be saving a lot of money on your heating bills, simply by sealing them in.
To make your home even more airtight, seal gaps in the doors too with weather-stripping.
