Heating Your Home Efficiently in Winter

3 November, 2020

The temperature is starting to drop! If you haven’t turned on your home’s heat yet, you probably will be soon. Running the heat throughout the winter can be costly, especially when temps drop below freezing. Fortunately, there are a lot of small things that you can do to help heat your home or office more efficiently and cut down on expensive electricity bills.

Invest in a Smart Thermostat

Digital smart thermostats are an easy and fairly inexpensive way to save money on your heating bills. Since they are programmable, you can have your smart thermostat turn the temperature of your home down when you’re not there and turn it back up when you get home. It may not seem like a lot, but the savings do add up on your energy bill.

Don’t Run the Heat If Nobody’s Home

Even if you don’t have a smart thermostat, you should still be adjusting indoor temperatures based on whether you are home, as well as the time of day. If you’re going to be away from the house, adjust your thermostat to keep your house a little cooler and then simply turn it up when you get home. You should also be using less heat at night, in favor of snuggling up under some warm blankets instead. Changes like these can save up to 10% on your yearly heating expenses!

Install Weatherstripping or Caulk Cracks

Many houses, especially older ones, are prone to having tiny cracks around their doors and windows. Believe it or not, an enormous amount of heat can escape through these little cracks. Fortunately, weatherstripping or caulk is a cheap and easy way to seal cracks and help keep the heat inside your home.

Turn on Your Ceiling Fan

Sure, you know that your fans can help circulate cool air during the summer, but did you know that you can do the same thing in the winter? Check the base of your ceiling fan, and you’ll find a small switch that changes the direction the blades spin. Doing this during the winter means your fans will help push warm air down and circulate it better throughout the room.

Open Your Curtains

During the day when the warm winter sun is streaming in, open your curtains or blinds to take advantage of the sun’s rays. Just make sure you close your curtains again at night to help insulate against the cold night air.

Cut Down on Fireplace Heat Loss

If you use your fireplace during the winter, make sure your damper is closed when the fireplace is not in use. An open damper can let icy cold airflow into your home. If you don’t use your fireplace, consider plugging and sealing the chimney flue permanently.

Insulate Your Attic

Too many homes lack insulation in their attics which, because heat rises, can be a huge contributing factor to winter heat loss. According to the EPA, your attic should be equipped with a minimum of R-38 insulation measuring between 10 and 14 inches deep.

Install Storm Windows

Older, singled-paned windows are not well insulated and can let heat out and cold in. By installing storm windows, you’ll be upgrading to double pained windows that not only increase insulation but help protect your home from the elements.

Change Your Furnace Filter

During the winter, you should be replacing your furnace’s filter at least every two months. Dirty filters make it harder for air to flow through, decrease your furnace’s efficiency, and make it harder for your system to remove contaminants from the air.

Insulate Pet Doors

Many people forget that their pet doors can let cold air in during the winter. If your pet won’t be using their pet door during the winter, consider sealing it up temporarily. If they will, use weather stripping around the edges, or install a thick curtain over the door, to keep the warmth inside.

Get Creative With Ways to Stay Warm

If you’re trying to keep your energy bills down, bundle up! Warm clothes like sweaters and socks can help keep you comfortable and allow you to turn your thermostat down a few degrees. You can also try covering your hard floors with rugs to keep some extra heat in. And don’t forget, a warm cup of coffee or cocoa can help you warm up as well!

Furnace Maintenance for Winter

To keep your HVAC system in good working order, it’s important to have an experienced HVAC technician visit your home at least once a year to perform regular maintenance. If you haven’t had your furnace tuned up in a while, now’s the perfect time!

Get in touch with the team at Odyssey Mechanical to have your furnace serviced and make sure it’s ready to keep you warm all winter. Give us a call at 910-392-6400 or contact us online to schedule your appointment.

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