We hate to tell you this as much as you likely hate to hear it, but there’s no stopping the fact: colder weather is coming.
And, with colder weather and … that W-word … thoughts naturally gravitate toward home heating. There’s the need to keep warm and comfortable, of course, but there’s also the costs of doing so.
Lowering your heating bill is always a worthy goal—not only for your pocketbook, but often for the environment as well. The more energy you conserve in your home heating habits, the less must be generated overall. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Here are a few tips on how to lower your heating bill this coming season.
You wouldn’t expect us not to start right off the bat with our favorite way, right?
Ideal insulation will not only keep your home warmer more efficiently in cold seasons, but cooler during warm seasons as well. And when it comes to the best form of insulation, foam is where it’s at!
Foam is easy to install in walls with minimum effort or need to move furniture, expanding and filling to provide outstanding thermal resistance. (You can learn more about how this is measured on our R-Value page.) Providing better insulation than your old batting will save you multitudes in the long run.
There’s even more you can consider than insulation, though.
A home can be a big place. Do you really need to heat every inch of it?
Do you have rooms that just don’t receive much traffic? Storage areas you’re only in for a few minutes at a time, or the bedroom that’s going unused now that your kid is off to college (at least until you turn it into your workout room)?
If you know rooms don’t need much heat, or only require it for certain times of the year, shut off and seal their vents. This will direct the energy to other areas of the house that better need it, and not into empty space.
Many estimates place windows and doors as the site of around 10 percent of total heat loss in a home. That’s nothing to sneeze at!
Check for drafts and make a quick trip to the hardware store for some help. You can caulk around the edges of window and door frames to seal them up, or use weather stripping (that stuff that’s kind of like squishy tape). If you see light or feel drafts at the bottom of a door, a door sweep or draft blocker can work splendidly to keep cold out.
If you actually do have solar panels on your home, then more power to you! But we’re talking about 100% organic sunlight here.
While the sun may not be out for very long during the winter, you can still take advantage of it while it shines. During sunny days, open your blinds on south-facing windows to bring more of that warmth inside. Just don’t forget to close those blinds again at sunset to help retain the heat you’ve gathered.
Don’t overlook this part of your overall heating situation. According to Energy.gov, the water heater can consume about 17 percent of a home’s total energy use. Shaving off some of this usage can save considerably in the long run.
In most cases, you can keep your water heater temperature at 120 degrees. If it’s higher, turn it down—you can save about 3-5 percent on your water heating costs for every 10 degrees you drop.
Also, make sure your water heater is operating efficiently. It might be time for it to have a checkup! Likewise, a fitted cover can also add some helpful insulation; just make sure you use one that is correct for the size and shape of your heater, and that it doesn’t go over the thermostat or burner compartments.
Taking sound steps to properly seal and regulate your home will be a significant saver.
If insulation is in your plans, we’d love to talk with you about it. And don’t forget, foam can work well for other structures you have that may need better heat retention, too. We do much more than homes!
Call us at (296) 751-2000
to schedule an estimate with us. If you prefer to contact us electronically, we’re also happy to hear from you that way! Simply fill out our online contact form
and we’ll get back to you.