While the holiday season is usually exciting, it can also be stressful and expensive if you don't adequately plan for it. Your energy costs can rise significantly and set fire to your wallet. Give yourself the gift of lower energy bills this holiday season by adopting these energy-saving habits.
You can bring heat from the sun into your home by leaving the curtains on any south-facing windows open. Close these window coverings at night to retain the heat.
Leaky windows may be more noticeable in the fall and winter. The drafts and heat loss they cause can waste a lot of energy and money. Caulk around your window frames to make them more efficient. Attach a clear plastic film or heavy duty, plastic sheeting to the inside of the frames to help prevent unwanted drafts from coming into your home.
Turning your thermostat back 10 degrees to 15 degrees for eight hours a day can save you as much as 10 percent a year on your heating and air conditioning bills. Set your thermostat lower when you're asleep or away from home. It will be easier to make these adjustments with a programmable thermostat.
Your heating system needs regular maintenance to keep it running efficiently. Have it serviced by a professional HVAC contractor. Change your furnace filter every month. Clean your wood- or pellet-burning heater's flue vent frequently. Use a wire brush to clean the interior of the appliance.
Finding and sealing air leaks is a cost-effective way of boosting your comfort and lowering your energy bills. Use caulk, weatherstripping, or expanding spray foam to seal leaks around plumbing penetrations, chimneys, recessed lights, and unfinished spaces that may be hiding behind closets and cupboards. Seal leaky doors with weatherstripping. Taking these steps can dramatically lower your household's energy consumption while maintaining comfortable temperatures in the fall and winter. For more tips to lower energy bills, please contact us at Russell's Heating & Cooling. We serve the Hampton Roads area of Southeast Virginia. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about lowering energy bills and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 757-750-1831. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “pexels/Pixabay”