As the temperature gets colder, more and more people rely on energy and electricity to keep their homes nice and warm. But are you being energy – and money – efficient when it comes to heating your home? Here are a few things that might be costing you major money without you even knowing it.
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Window And Door Insulation
Your windows and doors may actually be costing you a lot more than you expect. Heat escapes through any cracks in the entry points to your home, rendering your heating system less efficient and causing you to spend more money for less heat. There are insulating window treatments that you can try out to conserve heat and energy. You can also apply hard plastic to your windows during winter months to help keep the heat in, or caulk the perimeters to ensure that no obvious gaps are letting cold air in. Doors should be checked to make sure they fit their frames properly. Otherwise, you’ll be losing heat that way, too.
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Temperature Regulation
Many people leave their heat running all day, regardless of whether or not they’re actually home. This is a costly move with little for you to gain. Instead of doing that, try turning the heat down when you’re away from home or while you sleep at night. You can even invest in a thermostat controller, which allows you to change the temperature whether you’re at home or away from it.
You could also try lowering the thermostat by a few degrees even when you are home. Chances are you won’t notice the difference, but it could make a big impact on your heating bill.
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Poorly Maintained Fireplace
Your home doesn’t necessarily need to rely on the heat from a fireplace for it to cost you money. If you don’t block it off properly in the winter, it acts just like an open door or window would, siphoning the hot air from your house and costing you extra in heating costs.
If you do use your fireplace, then you won’t be getting the most out of it if it’s poorly maintained. Moreover, you could actually be putting yourself at risk for a house fire if the ventilation isn’t good enough or if the fireplace itself isn’t cleaned. Make sure to have yearly maintenance performed on your fireplace at minimum to ensure it’s running as it should be.
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Hot Water Heater
Your water heater’s default temperature setting rests at a very hot 140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you could save some money by dropping it just 20 degrees so it rests at 120 degrees Fahrenheit instead. In the same way that you likely won’t notice a difference if you lower your thermostat by a few degrees, you probably won’t be bothered by water that’s still warm enough to take a cozy shower in.
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Broken, Damaged Or Old Furnace
Your furnace doesn’t have an indefinite expiry date, and an old one will begin to have issues. Old furnaces or ones that are showing wear and tear may become obvious when your bill begins to hike. It can also begin to make noises that you aren’t used to. Finally, damages can actually appear in the forms of cracks or other blemishes to the furnace itself. You can check your furnace for these signs if you believe that your furnace may be contributing to your heat loss or climbing bill costs. If you notice any, chances are pretty good that you’ll need some repairs or even a furnace replacement.
If you’re interested in seeing less of your heat and money fly out the window this winter, give these tips a try. You’ll be surprised to see how much money just a few changes can save you.
This post in consideration with Ray & Son Heating and Air Conditioning
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