Tips for Winter Savings

Here in southeastern Ohio we have our first true winter storm blowing in.  So I thought it was time for some winter energy saving tips.

1) Check for drafts around windows and doors.  Purchase door sweeps for the bottom of the doors to seal out air leaks and install new weatherstripping if you feel cold air around your door or window seams. Window sealing kits are available too for those cold, cold windows.  All of these are simple tasks that anyone can do with kits from the hardware store.

2) Have your furnace tuned up.  I know, I know this makes me money.  So it seems like I might have ulterior motives to suggest it.  But seriously, all furnaces and should be serviced annually to increase efficiency and ensure the furnace is safe to operate.  For just a few extra dollars you can purchase one of our maintenance plans which includes the tune up, a filter, AND we'll pay for most parts and labor if you need a repair the rest of the year.  Not a bad deal for something you ought to be doing anyway.  Click here for the Energy Star check-list.  See?  Even the officials on saving energy agree with me on this one.
 
3) Which, by the way, if you don't have a high efficiency furnace, you should look into buying one.  Ask one of our specialists about the savings you can get from replacing a 20 year old (or older!) furnace with a newer efficient one and I think you'll be very surprised by how much money you are literally burning each month.
Check and replace furnace filters on a regular basis-we suggest checking the filter every 30-45 days.  If you have one of our super media filters, check it every 6 months at the very least.  They sometimes can last a year but it's best to check them monthly after the 6 month mark.
 
4) A programmable thermostat makes it easy to keep your house cool when you aren't home (or are asleep) and warm by the time you are home.  No sense wasting money heating your house to a comfortable temperature when it is empty.

5) Make sure fireplace dampers are fully closed when not in use.  Traditional fireplaces can suck warm air up them and right outside, wasting your precious energy dollars.  Personally, we installed a gas fireplace insert in ours several years ago.  This makes it a true source of heat for us, even when the power is out, and no warm air is ever sucked up the chimney.  Plus, I don't have to mess with wood.  If you truly want to heat with wood, for example if you can cut it yourself so it's a cheap heat source, then I recommend a wood stove or insert.

6) Finally, this isn't necessarily an energy saving tip, but heating your house dries your house up.  Meaning your sinus cavities are all dried up.  Meaning you can catch a cold more easily or have a cold turn into a sinus infection because everything is so stuffed up.  Installing a whole house humidifier (or buying a cool mist humidifier for each bedroom from a drug store or retail store) can stop these issues.  It can actually save you energy as well as a moist house feels warmer meaning you might be willing to keep the actual temperature on your thermostat lower.  Saving energy and money.
 
I'm all about saving money, a known deal grabber, coupon clipper, penny pincher.  But truth be told, no matter how many coupons you are clipping winter heating costs can suck all the money out of your banking account.  Take the time, and possibly the initial investment, and stop sending your money right out the chimney, windows, and doors.