Tips to Being Energy Efficient in the Winter

When winter time sets in, most areas have one thing in common, and that is how to keep their utility bill down while remaining warm inside their home. To get this outcome, it requires you to follow specific regimens when it comes to your thermostat and furnace as well as checking up on various parts of your house.

Heating the Home

It should be your first goal to have a programmable thermostat added to your home when worrying about energy efficiency. It should be placed in an area that will house the average temperature on the inside of your house. After it is installed, you will need to schedule the thermostat to set the temperature 10 degrees lower than normal at night and when no one is home. This will help to reduce your utility bill by up to 20 percent.

To compensate for some of the heat at night, try wearing sweaters and warm socks. This will help to keep your body heat in. Every time the thermostat is lowered by just one degree Fahrenheit, it will save you 3 percent.

If you have a forced air furnace, your filters should have been inspected at the beginning of the season. Upkeep will require you to check them every month afterward, and if they are dusty, they should be replaced or cleaned at the least.

Humidifiers are also a good way to stay warm. By adding moisture back into the air, they can actually make you feel warmer despite the lower thermostat setting.

Air Leaks

Most commonly air leaks are found around doors and windows, but there are other areas such as electrical outlets and washer and dryer hoses where cold air can get in also.

Keep all windows and doors leading to the outside closed as much as possible. When possible close off unused rooms (unless the thermostat is located in the room) and shut any air vents in the rooms to keep warm air more localized to the rest of the house.

Plastic film that can be found at local hardware stores are great for placing around windows. You might also have to seal and caulk and areas where leaks are noticeable. Doors with leaks (check with a flashlight or piece of paper) should be sealed with weatherstripping. Electrical outlets should have foam insulation gaskets placed behind them, and it is a good idea to switch the plate cover if the original has been damaged or is old.

Hot Water

Start with your water heater when worrying about hot water increasing your utility bill. Set the temperature to normal (120° F) unless you have a device that requires it to be hire such as a dishwasher. This should save you 7 to 10 percent on your hot water heating. You should also pick up pipe insulation from your local hardware store. Insulate the first five feet or until the pipe goes into the wall if it is shorter than five feet. It is also a good idea to wrap your actual water heater in insulation if it is older than five years old.

Next, when actually using hot water be sensible. When you take a hot shower, set the temperature to what you can absolutely tolerate as far as cold is concerned. Also, try not to just hang out in the shower but do what you have to do and get out. If you own a dishwasher only run full loads, and when washing dishes normally, try to only do it at most once a day and rinse as many dishes as possible at once to keep from having water running needlessly.

Unnecessary Energy Loss

To keep from having the thermostat set on high during the day, open your curtains to let the sun come in and warm your home. Close them when it starts to get dark.

Place your furniture in areas where it will not be drafty. This means placing pieces on inside walls as those facing the outside and where windows sit will typically be drafty. This could keep you warmer and help you fight the urge to turn the thermostat up.

If you have a traditional fireplace in your home, make sure the damper is closed when it is not in use. It is also a good idea to close the doors, if there are any, to protect against any leaking air. It is also not a good idea to use this type of fireplace very often, if at all, as they typically let out more warm air than provide warmth.

Hire a Professional

If you are unsure what needs to be sealed or how to do it, or if you find no change in your utility bill, it is often a good idea to hire a professional. There are companies that will make sure your furnace is working properly, your home is completely insulated and weatherized, and they can check up on a variety of other issues that may be keeping your home from being energy efficient. A few places where a professional may be needed are:

• Attic Insulation
• Broken Windows
• Large Holes in Attic, Crawlspace, or Basement
• Seal Exposed Ductwork
• Replace Older or Loose Fireplace Dampers

Gehringer Mechanical offers plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical work to customers in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, and Montgomery Counties.