Winter weather can be a source of anxiety for homeowners, and it’s not just because of the wear and tear it causes. Many people worry about their heating bills. There are simple steps you can take to lower your heating costs while investing little or no extra money. Here are 4 tips for how to heat your home efficiently.
Get Ready to Heat Your Home Efficiently
Work to heat your home efficiently early on in the cold season. It is easier to make any necessary repairs before the temperature drops below freezing. Replace worn weatherstripping and re-caulk cracks around doors and windows to keep cold drafts out of the home. A home inspector who offers thermal imaging can help discover areas that need attention. Make sure that your heating system is in good condition before severely cold weather hits. Make an appointment for HVAC servicing before the big rush that will accompany the first frost.
Check Out Your System
Your heating system can only heat your home efficiently if it has been tuned up. This means regularly changing filters, monitoring for leaky ducts, cleaning components, and getting an annual inspection done. Worn or malfunctioning components make the system consume more electricity or gas, leading to higher energy costs. With regular inspections, you will be able to correct issues before they cost you too much money in raised energy bills.
Use Fans to Heat Your Home Efficiently
The biggest complaint that many people have about the comfort in their homes is that temperatures are inconsistent. Certain spaces get extra heat from sunlight or ovens, while others have more exposure to the outdoors. Keeping the fan set to “on” instead of “auto” will help heat to distribute throughout the home, but operating costs will increase from leaving it constantly running. Setting it on “auto” will turn the fan on when the thermostat detects a difference in the set temperature and the actual temperature. This will cause more wear and tear for the fan, but it won’t be using energy from running all the time. Ceiling fans use less energy than the HVAC fan and will help to move warm air around the home. Set them to rotate clockwise in the winter to help heat your home efficiently.
Increase Humidity
While it is recommended to reduce indoor humidity during the warmer months, increased humidity makes the home feel warmer. If the winter air is dry in your area, invest in a portable humidifier. It can be beneficial to place a humidifier in a bedroom during the winter to make it feel warmer without having to turn up the thermostat.
Use these tips to lower your heating costs this winter. You can heat your home efficiently, increasing your comfort and saving money.
MNPro Home Inspections offers home inspection services including thermal imaging. Contact us to schedule an appointment in the Twin Cities area and Western Wisconsin.