Save Energy this Winter with these Helpful Tips and Tricks

Just because you are cold, doesn’t mean that you need to crank up the heating system to its max. Like with most money-saving measures, planning ahead and engaging in a little elbow grease helps your dollars go further.

You can keep your heater a few degrees colder, but still be comfortably warm by following a checklist. First items: have you had your furnace tuned-up yet this season? That’s a smart move.

Not only does a tune-up help your system run more efficiently, but it also lets you be able to have peace of mind that you’ll be warm all season long. If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat in place, that can be a wise move too. Ask your technician for details.

In addition to these measures, here are some helpful tips and tricks.

Window Insulation

You’d be surprised at how much warm air goes right out the window, so to speak if your windows aren’t insulated. That’s because they are filled will tiny pores that are the perfect gateway to the outdoors for warm air.

To combat this, hand window film. Tape the film against the window frame and then fix it snugly in place by applying heat. A hair dryer works well.

Want to be fashionable and functional at the same time? Install solar shades, which provide contemporary style to your space and convert sunlight to radiant heat for your room during the day.

Reverse Ceiling Fan Direction

Summertime in Winston-Salem, NC can be steamy, so there is a good chance that you had your ceiling fan running to keep cool when it was hot out.

Did you know that you can use your ceiling fan to keep warm when it is cold outside? This lets you keep the furnace a bit lower, but still maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

You simply reverse the fan’s direction, so that blades run clockwise for the winter (rather than counterclockwise, as they did for the summer).

This lets the fan take advantage of the rising warm air, which it grabs and then sends back down into the room, warming it effectively.

Caulk to Seal Gaps

Even a small crack in a window frame is enough for warm air to leak through. Stop this before it starts by sealing windows in their casings with caulk. Inspect every one, inside and out.

While you are at it, check the doors too. You could have similar gaps to deal with. Seal those up using weather-stripping for best results.