Turn Down the Thermostat and Water Heater
Keep your thermostat as low as you can tolerate it this winter. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), you can save about 3 percent on your heating bill for each degree that you turn back your thermostat. We recommend lowering the water heater temperature to 115-120 during winter, as this will help reduce your energy bill without a noticeable different in water temperature.
Use Fans Sparingly
If you use a kitchen fan when you are cooking, be sure to turn it off as soon as you are done. The Department of Energy found that a kitchen fan can expel an entire houseful of warm air in only an hour. The same is true of bathroom fans—only use them when you need to, and turn them off as soon as you are done.
Insulate Your Home
Leaks near your windows, doors, and other areas of your home can add up to major heat loss in the winter months. Plug them up with weatherstripping and insulating materials and you could save up to 10 percent on your heating bill, according to the ACEEE. Furthermore, opening the curtains and blinds on south-facing windows in the daytime allows sunlight to warm your home; just be sure to close them at night to improve insulation.
Close the Fireplace Damper
When you aren’t using the fireplace, be sure the damper is closed. Heat rises, so it’s essential that you keep the damper closed so that heat does not escape. Close off any rooms that you don’t use and shut the vents inside those rooms.
For more tips that will reduce your heating bill this winter, call Presidential Heating and Cooling at 301-900-5559. Visit our website to see our full list of air conditioning and furnace service.