Saving Energy Throughout the House in the Colder Temps Is Possible With These Tips

Cold weather will soon be arriving in Gary, and if you’re concerned about your high heating bills, it’s time to take action to help lower the costs associated with keeping your home comfortable during the long Indiana winter. These tips for saving energy in the cold weather will help you maintain a high level of comfort while lowering your utility bills this heating season.

Maintain Your Furnace

The best defense against high energy bills is an annual furnace tune-up, which provides far-reaching benefits, including:

• Preventing breakdowns during the coldest part of the year
• Higher system efficiency
• Lower heating bills
• Extended system life
• Protecting your family from potential carbon monoxide leaks

A qualified technician will clean, inspect and tune up your system, including lubricating the moving parts and tightening electrical and gas connections.

Seal Air Leaks

Air leaks make your furnace work overtime to compensate for lost warm air and the infiltration of cold air. Seal around windows and doors with caulk. Install weatherstripping between the movable components of windows and doors. Apply expandable caulk around pipes and vents that move through exterior walls.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A properly-used programmable thermostat can save you up to 30 percent on your heating bills, allowing you to set the thermostat according to when you’re at home, sleeping or at work.

Seal and Insulate Your Ducts

Leaky ductwork results in a 20 to 40 percent loss of conditioned air in the typical home. Seal loose joints with metal tape or mastic sealant. Check connections between the ducts and the furnace and between the ducts and the supply and return air registers.

Turn Down the Thermostat

For every degree you turn down your thermostat, you can save up to 3 percent on your energy costs.

• Open your south-facing window shades during the day to let the sun help warm your rooms.
• Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans to help distribute heat evenly throughout your rooms.
• Use a high-efficiency space heater to help warm cold rooms.

For more tips on saving energy in the cold Gary winter, please feel free to contact us at Meyer’s.