To make your home more energy efficient this winter you can do several things that do not take a lot of time or money. Creating efficiency is usually about effort. It takes a little effort to find the areas where the efficiency is lacking. Once you find the most deficient areas it is much easier to manage them, fix them, and eliminate them as threats to your home's comfort and your heating bills.
If you do not have an electronic thermostat you need to get one. Many utility companies are actually just handing these out for free, so it is easy to get one. Even purchasing one is not expensive and installation is easy.
To help make your home more energy efficient this winter you should find the most comfortable setting and turn the temperature down by one to two degrees. This is usually enough to cut the bills while not drastic enough to cause discomfort.
A smoke test is an imperative part of making sure your home is more energy efficient this winter. This is a simple test that helps you detect air leaks throughout the vulnerable areas. Usually, the doorways and vents are sealed and a fan is used to create the right draft setting. Many people have been able to find the larger drafts simply by walking up to the vulnerable areas with lit incense or other smoke creating device.
When you watch the direction the smoke travels while you are standing still you can track down drafts and seal them, which can make a huge difference when it comes to the efficiency of a home.
Check your insulation. Many homes are not routinely checked for gaps or nests in the attic insulation. It does not take long to do this and you may find that there is a need to replace some or all of the insulation. Do not rely on standard replacement times. These do not take into account leaks from rain storms, rodents, and other potentially damaging elements that can cause you to lose energy quickly.
Finally, when making your home more energy efficient this winter close off unused rooms, seal windows and framing to prevent drafts, and use air blockers along the bottom of doors. These very simple steps can help improve efficiency and comfort and allow you to turn down the thermostat another few degrees because you simply are not losing the heat that you were. This makes the entire home more comfortable and does not cost a lot of money or time to complete.
Comments(0)