Are you concerned about a higher home heating bill in the winter? Learn how to heat your home efficiently and save money on your utility bills.
Make Sure Your Airflow isn’t Blocked
Don’t overlook your vents when hanging curtains or rearranging the furniture in your home. Keep your furnishings away from HVAC vents to allow the air to freely circulate. Use your vacuum cleaner to remove all pet hair and dust from around vents and your furnace’s intake.
Don’t place clothes on a radiator to dry them. This prevents heat from circulating properly and can become a fire hazard.
Block Drafts to Heat Your Home Efficiently
Inspect around your home for cracks or gaps that allow cool air inside and the warm air outside. Use caulk to seal around windows. Replace old or deteriorating weatherstripping to seal your doors against cold weather. Electrical outlets are another area where heat can escape around the gaps. Hardware stores sell outlet insulation foam to help stop the airflow there.
Clean or Replace Furnace Filters
The filters on your furnace need to be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis. Dirty filters cause your furnace to work harder than necessary. Change the filters at least every three months or as needed to ensure your furnace is working at optimal capacity and efficiency.
Adjust Your Ceiling Fans to Heat Your Home Efficiently
Run your ceiling fan so it rotates clockwise at a low speed to pull cool air up and disperse warm air throughout the room. Hot air rises, so the ceiling fan can be used to direct heated air back down the walls and add more warmth to your space.
Use Solar Power
Use the power of the sun to heat your home more efficiently, even if you don’t have solar panels. Open the curtains or drapes on any south-facing windows so the sun’s rays can warm the rooms. The sun will help heat your home during the day. At night, close the curtains to better insulate your living spaces.
Use Your Thermostat Correctly
The best daytime setting for your thermostat is 68 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, lower the temperature and use warm bedding to keep the family comfortable. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to automatically make the adjustment so the temperature is consistent.
Cole’s Inspection Services provides home inspections to Statesville and the surrounding area of North Carolina. Contact us to schedule our services.