8 Winter Energy Saving Tips for Glen Carbon and Metro East Homes

We’ve already had our fair share of cold weather this year, but winter officially starts this Saturday.  That means that our furnaces will be working extra hard for the foreseeable future, and many homeowners are likely looking for ways to keep their heating bills low. In order to help you out, today we’re providing you with eight winter energy saving tips for your home!

8 winter energy saving tips for Glen Carbon and Metro East homes

1. Schedule your furnace tune-up. In order to keep your heating bills low, your furnace has to be operating at its peak efficiency. The best way to ensure this is to schedule a furnace tune-up with Tiger if you haven’t already.
2. Use a programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you can easily and automatically lower your thermostat temperature during the times of day when nobody is home. This will ease the load on your furnace and reduce your heating bills.
3. Change your air filter regularly. During the heating season, more air is cycled through your filter than during milder times of the year. That means that your filter will clog up faster during winter, which makes it all the more important to check and/or change it at least once per month.
4. Make sure your windows and doors are sealed. Cold air can seep through your doors and windows during winter, which will force your furnace to work harder to keep your home warm. The best way to avoid efficiency problems with your doors and windows is to apply caulk and weather-stripping to any cracks or openings around them. Contact Tiger if you need any help sealing your home this winter!
5. Close your fireplace damper when it’s not in use. Keeping your fireplace damper open is like leaving one of the windows open in your home. Be sure to close the damper when your fireplace isn’t in use to avoid energy losses.
6. Open window shades on sunny days. You can take advantage of natural heat from the sun, and ease the load on your furnace, by keeping the shades open on your windows during sunny days.
7. Run your ceiling fans in reverse. Warm air tends to pool up near the ceiling. You can push that warm air back down to the floor by running your ceiling fans in reverse. This will make it easier to lower your thermostat a few degrees and still stay warm.
8. Use a whole house humidifier. A whole house humidifier will increase your home’s humidity levels, which will make it feel warmer indoors. This is another tip that will allow you to save energy by lowering your thermostat without sacrificing comfort levels.

If you have any questions about these winter energy saving tips, or if you’d like a plumbing or heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Tiger, your Metro East plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor.