When Jack Frost starts nipping at your nose, you know it’s time to prepare your home for wind chills and snow days. Taking a few steps this winter to lower heating costs and improve energy efficiency will help save the planet without breaking the bank!
Before your heating costs have a chance to shoot through the roof, take a look at this short list of 4 tips we’ve put together that will help you save money this winter.
1. Lower The Thermostat
When you are in your home, set your temperature as low as is comfortable. Adjusting your thermostat by just 2 degrees can make a huge difference on your monthly energy bill. According to Energy.gov, if you are going to be out of the house or asleep, turn your thermostat back 10 degrees to save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling costs.
Tip: A programmable thermostat can do all this for you!
2. Fill The Washer
If you use a dishwasher in your home, make sure that you only run the machine when you’ve completely loaded it up. The average dishwasher uses 6 gallons of water per cycle; the average Energy Star-rated dishwasher uses 4 gallons per cycle.
3. Weatherproof Your Home
The first place you should check when you begin to weatherproof your home for winter is around your windows and doors. Check to see if your caulk looks stiff or crumbly, or if it is peeling, chipping or otherwise falling apart; if so, it definitely needs to be replaced.
The second place to check is the weather stripping around your windows and doors which protects against cold drafts. Adding plastic sheeting to your windows also helps from heat loss in your home.
The third place to check is your pipes. Make sure to insulate pipes that are not in heated areas.
4. Clean Your Gas Furnace Filter
Winter’s tough enough without your furnace dying or not putting out enough heat. Changing your furnace filter every 1-3 months helps keep your airflow free of dust, grime, and debris—all of which can impair the efficiency of your home’s entire heating system. Replacing a clogged filter can lower a heating system’s energy consumption by as much as 15 percent!
Need Help With Your Home’s Heating System? Give Us a Call!
When it’s time for the heat to come on for the winter, you’ll want the number for Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling on hand! We have over forty years of experience providing exceptional heating services to our communities here in Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware counties and we’re happy to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Schedule service by phone at (215) 855-2014 or click on the banner below to schedule heating service online today!
