Winter is Coming! Just Kidding…It’s Already Here

Winter is everyone’s favorite time of year. Just kidding! Winter is a rough season for those of us who live in the Midwest. All of that snow, ice, frigid winds, bitterly cold temperatures. Plus all of the fun that accompanies the unpleasant weather. Like; icy windshields, frozen pipes, high heating bills, snow covered driveways, cold and flu season, etc. winter can be a long, miserable three months. Not to mention, expensive! The good news is that there are several things you can do to help cut the costs of staying warm and comfortable this winter.The cost of heating your home is by far your biggest expense during the winter months, but there are ways to cut down on your costs.

• Change your filter at least once a month, to help ensure that your furnace runs as efficiently as possible.
• Setting your programmable thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees when you’re not home, can save you up to 15% on your heating bill.
• To keep the warm air flowing freely, be sure to clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed. Remember to make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Keep your curtains and blinds on your windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home. And close them at night to help keep heat inside and reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
• Leave your oven door open after you’re done cooking (and you’ve turned your oven off). This allows the heat from your oven to help warm your home.
• Eliminate trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if unsure about how to perform this task, contact a professional.

Keeping the heat inside and the cold outside can be tricky, especially if you have an older home. Here’s a quick checklist to help you keep winter out of your home.

• Make sure that your home is well insulated! If it’s not, you’re just throwing money away.
• Place towels, pipe insulation or some other form of thick material at the bottom of your exterior doors. This will help prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from pouring in.
• Have an Electrician install foam installation behind your electrical plate covers and outlets.
• Inspect window and door frames for cracks, that can let the winter air in.

Frozen pipes can spell disaster for your home and your wallet! Take the necessary precautions to protect your plumbing.

• First and foremost, make sure that you have turned off all of your outdoor water supplies.
• Make sure that you disconnect and put away any outdoor hoses.
• Insulate your water heater and any pipes on your home’s exterior.

Looking for a more long-term solution to lower your winter energy costs?

• A new and more energy efficient furnace will provide you with major long term savings on your heating bill each winter.

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