Winter brings low temperatures, freezing winds, and chilly precipitation \u2014 all of which encourage you to boost your thermostat to keep your home warm and cozy. However, increasing the heat in your home means you\u2019re also increasing the size of your gas and electricity bills. Keep more money in your pocket during the winter season with these 13 helpful winter energy-saving tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We get it. No one wants to be inside and cold in the winter. But the higher you set your thermostat, the higher your energy bills will be. When you push your heater too far above 70\u00b0 F, you\u2019ll start seeing energy bills like you did in summer when you set your air conditioner at 72\u00b0 F or below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To begin seeing a real difference in your energy usage and cost, we recommend the following setting for your thermostat<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal is to help your heater work more effectively so you don\u2019t have to keep it running all the time. That\u2019s because your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system uses more energy than anything else in your home. So, if you want a lower bill in winter, you should start by using less energy to heat your home. Anything less won\u2019t deliver the impact you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not you personally, of course, unless you\u2019re certified for HVAC systems. To truly ensure your heater is working properly all winter, call a licensed professional. They\u2019ll come out and conduct a thorough inspection of your entire heating system. This includes the duct work, wiring, and other physical hardware. Any failures in the system equals wasted heat, which means you\u2019re shelling out cash for heat no one uses. Make sure you also get your HVAC system cleaned. An inspection won\u2019t be nearly as useful if dust bunnies are creating a den in your ducts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This process is often called weatherstripping. Take some time to seal up all of the areas of your home<\/a> where warm inside air can escape and cool outside air can sneak in. These are the most important places to check:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have leaks and drafts in your home, your heater will keep running all winter long because it can\u2019t keep up with transfer of air between the interior and exterior of your home. For those of you with drafty older homes or rentals you can\u2019t make changes to, you have some other options as well \u2014 like using plastic film insulation to seal up any leaky windows. Not sure if you have air leaks? Walk around your home with a candle. If the flame wobbles at a certain spot, that\u2019s a leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unless you\u2019re a professional fireplace inspector for your day job, you should hire one for your home. There are two primary reasons you need the inspection:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, the fireplace is a large hole in your house, so it needs to be maintained so your home doesn\u2019t waste energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier, we sealed up the leaks in your windows so you can keep a strong heat envelope in your home. Now, it\u2019s time to use those windows to aid in keeping your home comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal remains helping your home stay warm without overusing your heater, which drives up your energy bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, you can find this tip on any list about energy efficiency, but it\u2019s for a good reason. The dirtier the air filter for your HVAC system, the harder it works to do its job. And the harder it works, the more energy you\u2019ll use just to keep your home comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should change the filter every three months<\/a> at minimum, but most professionals recommend changing it once a month. We suggest consulting with the manufacturer of your HVAC unit to determine the best course of action for your particular machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check every fan in your home to ensure they all spin clockwise. In the warmer months, it\u2019s better to have them spinning counterclockwise, pushing cool air down into the room. But when it\u2019s cold, you want the fan to pull warm air up into the ceiling so it can then settle down into the room and keep you warm. Not sure how to change the spin direction? Check the main console of the fan \u2014 there should be a switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to home improvement professionals, your attic insulation level should be R30-rated. The R Value measures how well your insulation can resist heat traveling through it. The higher the number, the better. Without proper insulation, your home is unable to retain heat properly, so your heater has to keep running so your family stays warm all winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the age of your home and how it was constructed, you should also consider adding insulation to your walls. And while both of these tasks can be handled by a homeowner with do-it-yourself experience, you can also call a professional for assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regular lightbulbs are surprisingly inefficient.. Traditional incandescent bulbs waste nearly 90% of their energy, while LED bulbs effectively use nearly 90%. Switching the bulbs to LED ones in the most-used rooms of your house will make a big change to your energy usage. This is doubly true when you change out your decorative holiday lighting to LED lights. Take advantage of lower bills with our Free Nights<\/a> plans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While you should insulate the pipes outside of your home to prevent them from freezing and hurting your home, you should also cover any exposed pipes inside your home. Doing so prevents heat loss and helps maintain proper water temperature, which is a substantial cause of high heating bills in winter. If you live in a particularly cold area, be sure to keep a drip going in the sink if you leave town \u2014 that way the pipes won\u2019t freeze while you\u2019re gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the easiest tip can be the most effective.. If you\u2019ve lowered your thermostat and people complain about the cold, encourage them to put on a sweater and socks at home. The point of these winter energy-saving tips is to keep your family comfortable while lowering your heating energy usage. But the people in your home need to work together with the heating system for the best effect. Invest in some blankets or have people wear more clothes at home so you can keep the thermostat on lower temperatures all winter long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t waste extra energy heating rooms and spaces that you aren\u2019t using. If you have a guest room that\u2019s rarely used, or your kid has a bedroom waiting for them to come home from college, or even if you have a storage space that no one spends a lot of time in \u2014 close those doors and vents. They don\u2019t need to be heated if they\u2019re not being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider this tip a simple life hack. Say you\u2019ve cooked a big meal (or even a small one) in your oven. You had to heat it, right? And when you\u2019re done cooking, what happens to that heat? It just sits there. Take advantage of your empty oven and once you\u2019re done with it, crack the door open to let the heat from inside warm up the space around it. Just remember to turn it off, first \u2014 leaving it on would be both inefficient and dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a chance you\u2019re still paying a lot for electricity and gas even if you put all of these tips into action at home. If that\u2019s the case, you\u2019re probably paying too much per kilowatt-hour of energy. Check the kWh rate on your most recent energy bill and then visit ChariotEnergy.com<\/a> to see if we have cheaper rates in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
#2 Inspect Your HVAC System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#3 Stop Air Leaks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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#4 Inspect the Fireplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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#5 Use Your Curtains Efficiently<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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#6 Change Your Air Filter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#7 Reverse Your Ceiling Fan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#8 Add More Insulation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#9 Switch to LED Lights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#10 Insulate Your Pipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#11 Bundle Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#12 Close Doors and Vents in Rooms You Don\u2019t Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#13 Crack Your Oven Door<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Save on Winter Energy Bills with Chariot Energy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n