Don’t let your home get caught in the cold. Take these actions to stay comfortable and save.
- Call a pro. Hire a qualified professional to inspect and clean your heating system to ensure that it’s operating at peak efficiency.
- Plug the holes. Check for air leaks around recessed light fixtures, pipes, wiring and flues in your attic and basement. Fill them with expandable foam or caulk.
- Fill in the gaps. Look for any gaps around windows or exterior doors. Seal any you find with caulk or weatherstripping.
- Ensure coverage. Make sure your walls and attic are insulated to levels recommended for your climate zone. An insulation contractor can help.
- Get with the program. Install a Wi-Fi-enabled programmable thermostat and set it to automatically adjust temperatures to save energy based on your schedule. Set the thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re awake and lower it before you go to sleep or are away. Lowering the temperature by between 7 and 10 degrees can save as much as 10 percent on heating costs.
- Be smart with your layout. Be sure furniture and drapes are not blocking heating baseboards or radiators.
- Let the light in. Let in the sun’s natural warmth by opening drapes and curtains during the day on sun-facing windows. Close them at night to keep the warmth inside.
- Grow your indoor garden. Humid air makes you feel warmer at a lower thermostat setting. Houseplants add natural humidity.
- Switch it up! Switching to LED light bulbs also saves money and energy. They use as much as 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer for years of savings.
If your heating system is older or in need of repair, consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR-certified high-performance unit.
More Ways to Save
Looking for more ways to save this winter?
- Check out our 66 Ways to Save!
- Before cold weather hits, consider a Home Energy Assessment. A professional auditor will inspect your home and provide a targeted set of recommendations to improve the comfort and efficiency of your home this winter and all year long.
