Winter has really been baring her fangs lately, hasn’t she? We hope you’re staying cozy and comfortable in your home, and since we’ve got quite a while to wait before we can enjoy the spring thaw, your reliable climate control professionals at Ideal Heating and Air want to help our customers out with a few tips for energy savings in the meantime.
Evaluate Your Home’s Energy Drains
Seeking out cracks, gaps, and holes between your cozy home and winter frost is a practical first step to improved energy savings. You could see savings of an estimated 10-20% on your energy bill simply by sealing in the warm air your furnace is working so hard to generate!
Begin with a visual inspection of the outdoors. Pay especially close attention to where pipes enter your house. Are the points of entry sealed, or are you able to peer right inside? Also observe the places where different building materials meet, such as the foundation, window frames, or the roofline. If you are seeing gaps or holes, they are very likely allowing your warm air to escape.
Now it is time to pinpoint the source of drafts in your house. Allstate Insurance recommends using the “incense test” to visually observe drafts caused by faulty window or door seals. On a blustery day, make sure all of your windows and exterior doors are closed. Turn off the furnace and all fans Light a stick of incense and place it close to the source of potential drafts (near windows and doors). Watch the way the smoke curls. If there is no draft, the smoke will drift upward. If it is drawn out of the room or pushed further into it, you’ve discovered your air leak.
Don’t forget to inspect the attic and basement for air leaks as well!
Energy Savings Tomorrow Begin with Repairs Today
Now that you know how that cold air is infiltrating your cozy home, it’s time to seal up those spaces. Make a supply list for each project and head to your favorite home improvement store to stock up on everything you need.
1. Install More Insulation in the Attic.
Before you begin, choosing the best insulation for your home requires some research. As you investigate your options, you’ll find a wide range of prices and styles, from spray foam to batt insulation, as well as a host of options. Keep your budget in mind as you shop and pay close attention to the R-value of each product. This refers to the level of heat resistance the product offers.
2. Use Caulk or Foam to Seal Gaps and Openings
This is a quick DIY fix, but you may be surprised at how many openings lurk around your home. Check around plumbing pipes, cables, and electrical cables and outlets. Every gap filled helps to secure your home against the elements, as well as the creepy crawlies that would like to winter with you.
3. Add Door Sweeps to Exterior Doors to Minimize Air Loss at the Threshold.
Carefully measure the width of your door before shopping to ensure the best fit. Door sweeps come in a variety of styles and looks, with some making a conspicuous, but effective barrier to the cold while others are more subtle and streamlined.
4. Add Weatherstripping to Doors and Windows
Even if you’ve never removed or installed weatherstripping before, DIY tutorial videos abound that will have you working like a pro in no time. As always, measure your window and door sizes carefully and calculate how many materials you will need. A simple putty knife should be sufficient to help you loosen and begin the removal of the old product.
Other Energy Saving Tips
Even with your repair and improvement efforts, there are plenty of other ways you enhance your energy savings this winter.
1. Cover Your Windows
If your home does not have insulated windows, they’re helping your heat escape. Close the blinds and draw the curtains to provide a barrier to heat loss. If your home feels dark and gloomy closed up in this way, get into the habit of closing the curtains when you leave the room so you can enjoy the light and view when you want to and conserve the heat when you don’t.
2. Replace Appliances
Technology continues to evolve, making appliances work more efficiently with lower energy costs. Replace your worn-out appliances with EnergyStar rated ones. Additionally, thanks to federal clean energy initiatives, your new appliances may be eligible for tax breaks, helping you save even more.
3. Reverse Your Ceiling Fan
Did you know that with the flip of a switch, most ceiling fans can be used to pull air upward instead of blowing it down? Warm air naturally rises, but when that cold air is pulled upward, it forces the warmth to move downward, where you need it most.
4. Use Your Furnace Wisely
Do you have a programmable thermostat? If you do, make sure your furnace is running when you need it, not overworking to heat an empty house while everyone is at school and work. Also think about how you choose to dress while you are relaxing at home. Are you in shorts and a tee shirt even when snow is flying outside? Perhaps your thermostat is set a little too high! If you can bring that thermostat down 2-3 degrees and remain comfortable by wearing pants and a sweater or sweatshirt, the energy savings will follow your wardrobe change.
Furnaces need care and periodic maintenance. First and foremost, make sure you change those filters regularly. If it’s been a while since you’ve had it inspected and serviced, don’t delay in doing so. Your furnace is working its hardest during these cold winter months, so it deserves a little TLC to achieve peak performance.
When to Call the Professionals
At Ideal Heating and Air, we take our responsibility to keep our clients cozy, happy, and on budget all year long very seriously. If your heater or furnace isn’t performing as well as it ought, we’d love to help. Give us a call today, and we’ll be out right away to diagnose the problem and provide you with the long-lasting solutions you can count on.
