The cold weather brings blustering winds and high energy bills. Heating your home during the Buffalo winters can take a serious toll on your wallet. Plus, with prices rising everywhere, utilities will naturally be affected. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. By taking a few extra steps, you can keep your home warm without breaking the bank.
Follow these simple tips to cut cold weather costs, while still keeping your home comfortable and cozy this winter:
Don’t heat an empty house
When you’re not at home, turn down the thermostat. There’s no reason to heat an empty home; it will only drive up your heating bills. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can program it so that it returns to normal temperature by the time you get back home. Some thermostats even allow you to control the temperature on your phone, even if you’re not at home.
Let in light
A heater is not the only way to keep your home warm. Natural light is an easy and free way to warm up your home. You just have to use it in the right way. Open up your curtains and blinds to let in sunlight, but be sure to only open those that are receiving direct light. All other blinds and curtains should be kept close to prevent heat loss.
Prevent drafts
Drafty doors and windows are common culprits when it comes to heat loss. Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do about this. There are a variety of seals that make it easy to prevent heat from escaping through nooks and crannies around doors. You can install vinyl seals around the edge of doors, or add an aluminum door bottom to stop drafts that force you to turn up your thermostat. Replacing your doors and windows can also help further insulate your home, but you should only do this if they are in serious disrepair.
Make your ceiling fan go counterclockwise
Heat rises, so reverse the direction of your ceiling fan to push warm air down from the ceiling toward your living space. You’ll feel warmer, and save money at the flick of a switch.
Ivy Lea Construction can help you keep your home warm during the harsh Buffalo winters. Contact us today to learn more!