Staying cozy in winter doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. Keeping your home comfortable is essential safety and for protecting your pipes from freezing. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to make your home feel toasty without overworking your furnace – and they can help you energy savings, too. Read on to learn more about the top 6 winter hacks to stay warm without this winter without the added cost!
How to Save Money on Heating
1. Open Curtains and Blinds
One easy way to reduce how much your heating system must run during the winter is to take advantage of the natural warmth the sun provides. On sunny days, this means getting into the habit of opening your curtains and blinds to allow the sunlight to shine in. By doing so, you can keep the temperature in certain rooms up a few degrees, so you don’t have your thermostat set quite as high. Windows that face south or west receive the most sunlight during the hotter parts of the day. North-facing windows contribute very little to heat gain since they receive the least sunlight. You may still want to keep those windows covered so you block out cold air.
2. Rugs and Insulated Window Treatments
Many types of flooring, like hardwood, composite, and tile, tend to be cold in the winter and can contribute to you feeling chillier. Even though heat rises, some heat can also escape through your floors, especially if they aren’t that well insulated. That’s why it’s a good idea to lay thicker area rugs on some of your hard floors so you don’t feel the cold emanating off them. This can also create another layer of insulation that helps trap heat in.
While windows are a great source of heat gain during the day, they’re also a major source of heat loss whenever the sun isn’t shining. As soon as the sun starts to go down, you should close your windows and blinds. Keep them closed on overcast days. It’s a good idea to hang heavier, insulated curtains and drapes so that you block out more of the cold air. Cellular blinds are also great at trapping heat in and keeping cold air out.
3. Check for Air Leaks Around Windows and Exterior Doors
In most homes, windows and exterior doors are among the biggest culprits in terms of heat loss. That’s why you want to make sure that no cold air can leak in around your windows and exterior doors. This will make a major difference in how warm your home stays during the winter and how much your heating needs to run. The first step for ensuring your windows and doors are properly sealed and not leaking is to visually inspect them on the inside and outside for any gaps or cracks. If you see any gaps around the frame, you want to seal them with silicone or caulk.
You also want to check that the weather stripping around all your door frames and on the bottom of all exterior doors is fully intact with no gaps or sections that have started to fall apart. Replacing old or missing weather stripping is a simple task that will greatly reduce how much cold air can flow inside and how much heat can escape.
If you have any major air leaks, you should be able to feel cold air around windows and doors. Another easy way to test for leaks and drafts is to take a lit candle and slowly move it around each window and door frame. If the flame flickers more than usual, it indicates there is a leak in that area.
If you have any old single-pane windows in your house, it’s a good idea to seal them using a window insulation kit. This step generally isn’t necessary if you have double-pane or triple-pane windows since they are already well insulated.
4. Run Your Ceiling Fans
Most ceiling fans have two settings that allow them to spin either clockwise or counterclockwise. In the winter, run your fans clockwise. This creates an updraft that pushes warm air near the ceiling downward, distributing heat more evenly throughout the room. Ceiling fans are most effective in rooms with high ceilings, which applies to many older Portland homes.
Using your ceiling fans this way can help you feel warmer and allow you to keep your thermostat a few degrees lower. Even though fans use only a small amount of electricity, turn them off when you leave the room to avoid wasting energy.
5. Change the Air Filter Regularly
If you have a furnace or heat pump that provides central forced-air heating, you should make sure that you check your HVAC system air filter regularly and replace it as needed. During the coldest parts of the winter, when your heating runs much more, you’ll want to check your filter every 30 days, with most filters needing replaced every 1-3 months. If you don’t replace the filter often enough, your heating system’s performance will suffer. A dirty filter reduces airflow, making it take longer for your home to heat up and causing your system to use more energy.
Filters have MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) ratings, which indicate how effectively they capture dust, pollen, and other particles. While a higher MERV rating traps more debris, it can also restrict airflow, forcing your HVAC system to work harder and potentially limiting how much heat reaches your home.
Most residential systems perform best with a filter rated MERV 10 or lower. Signs that a filter is too efficient include noticeably weaker airflow from your vents. If you’re unsure which filter your system can handle, consult a professional to make sure your heating stays effective, efficient, and reliable all winter long.
6. Make Sure Your Heating Is Properly Maintained
Be sure to have your heating system professionally inspected and maintained every year. There are several maintenance tasks that need to be performed regularly for the system to work as effectively as it should. If you neglect to have all the necessary tasks performed at the start of winter, you can encounter numerous issues that directly impact how much heat the system puts out and how much energy it uses.
There will also be an increased risk of your heating system breaking down and not working at all until you can get it repaired. Your heating system will also almost certainly need to be replaced much sooner if you don’t ensure it is properly maintained. R
Energy Savings Start with 3 Mountains Services
At 3 Mountains Home Services, we’ve been serving customers in Milwaukie, OR, and throughout the Portland area since 2000. As one of the area’s most trusted home service companies, you can count on us for all your home’s heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical needs. Call or schedule online to book your professional heating tune-up today!