How To Save Energy Every Day In Your Home
Home heating is like money…the less you spend, the more you save. Although wintertime is the peak season to spend our heating dollars, it is also the best time to save money through conservation. Even when it's very cold outside, there is still plenty you can do to stay warm inside, while reducing your heating bills at the same time.

Begin with a tour around your home, looking for signs of heat loss, such as:
· A drafty fireplace
· Condensation on widows
· Poorly fitting doors
· Cracks alongside wall trim

In winter, wooden doors and structural components often shrink due to lower humidity, contributing to cracks, which can cause heat loss. If your home is fairly new, you may find the house has actually shifted during a cold spell, which could require immediate maintenance. Wherever you find drafts, seal off what you can from the inside, using insulation, caulking, weather stripping, interior window liners or heavy drapes. On the next really cold day check to determine whether more extensive repairs or replacements are needed in these areas.

Even without having to do repairs, there are other things you can do to save energy. Just by opening blinds and drapes during sunny days, you can keep your thermostat down by a few degrees.

Besides supplementary heating such as a fireplace or space heater, your furnace is among the most critical areas of energy conservation in your home. So, if you didn't get it inspected in the fall, so it now. A mid-season inspection will clearly reveal how it's running, and how it can be more efficient. For example; if you have a forced air furnace, you might need your ducts cleaned, or your filters replaced. If you have hot water radiators, you may need to monitor the boiler pressure and pump to ensure it is circulating properly. Feel your rads for cold spots - you may also need to "bleed" them of trapped air for maximum even heating. During your service inspection, stay alongside for the complete session and learn how to maximize your furnace's efficiency during operation. If you haven't already got one, a thermostat with an automatic setback timer will probably be suggested. Save money by not heating your home while everyone is asleep or away.

The hot water tank is another expensive fuel energy consumer, but there are many little things you can do to reduce your demand without reducing your comfort. The first thing you should do is to fix any leaky faucets, especially got water faucets. If you can, take a shower instead of a bath. If your shower is too hot, don't just add more cold water - reduce the hot water (as long as you can maintain sufficient pressure). Another good idea is to turn down the temperature of your hot water tank's thermostat by about 10 per cent. Chances are you won't even notice the difference. But you will save in fuel costs.

Far too many homeowners assume it is too late to do anything about saving energy during cold weather, but nothing could be further from the truth. Obviously, it takes a lot of extra money to be comfortable during winter, so every little bit helps.

To Top