Winter is right around the corner. Some of us are already experiencing the cold weather winter brings. With a decrease in weather comes an increase in utilities such as gas and electricity. With the current economy, everyone could use some tips on how to prevent their utilities from significantly increasing. I have developed some tips that will help you keep your utility bills down and make sure you stay warm during this coming winter.
- Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to push hot air downward and delay it from escaping the house.
- Switch out all of your summer screens with glass.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace.
- Consider hanging thermal curtains to help prevent drafts.
- Seal any entry points to keep small animals out of your home.
- Seal any foundation cracks.
- Install a dryer vent seal to prevent cold air from traveling back into your home.
- There are attachments to vent your dryer inside your home so you don't waste the heat and humidity. (Don't try this if you have a gas-powered dryer).
- Check windows for leaks. Windows with wooden frames often warp and become inefficient.
- Caulk both sides of the trim around your windows. This is an area where a lot of air can get in.
- Secure all crawlspace entrances.
- Try not to use space heaters to heat large areas of your house.
- If you spend most of your time in one room in a large house, consider setting your thermostat low and using a small heater to heat where you are going to be.
- Remove any window-unit air conditioners.
- Install smoke detectors in every hall or room.
- Keep all closet doors closed when possible. There's no need to heat space that isn't in use as long as it doesn't contain water pipes.
- Make sure that your garage isn't too drafty.
- Try to use the clothes dryer for consecutive loads of laundry. This conserves the energy that would be needed to heat up the dryer several times.
- Replace the caulking around any bathtubs or showers.
- If your home has folding attic stairs, consider insulating the door with a cover of some sort.
- If your home has a sliding glass door, check the seal on the bottom to make sure it isn't letting in cold air.
- If your water heater needs to be upgraded, consider installing a tankless water heater.
- Use the oven for baking during colder hours of the day to help heat your home.
- Install storm doors to help keep out drafts.
- Use an energy monitor to tell you what appliances are using the most energy. This might help pinpoint areas where you can cut back on energy usage.
- Make sure that your duct system is working properly.
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