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If the thought of rising utility bills sends chills through your budget, it's a good idea to spend some time preparing your home for the coming season. Tackling some commonly overlooked tasks can help you keep your energy costs from climbing unnecessarily high.
Eliminate some money stress this winter by preparing your home for the weather ahead.
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Use a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat allows you to set your preferred temperatures and then forget about them. Even small adjustments to your home's temperature can make a big difference.
In fact, you can save up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by setting your thermostat back 7 to 10°F for eight hours a day, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
You can find many of these for between $20 and $80, making it a worthwhile investment for many.
Change out your air filters
As an air filter accumulates dust and debris, it makes it more difficult for your furnace or air-handling unit to suck in the air to warm it. Regularly changing out your air filters puts less strain on your equipment, which can lead to lower energy costs.
Seal air leaks
If warm air is leaking out of your home, your equipment could need to work harder to keep you warm. Keeping the air in can help to lower your energy costs.
You can shore up your home by adding caulk or weather stripping around doors and windows. Additionally, look for air leaking out around gaps in your chimney or plumbing pipes.
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Use heavy curtains
Opting for heavy drapes in the winter can help to trap heat in your home. But on sunny days, the Department of Energy recommends pulling back your shades to take advantage of the warming sunlight.
Tune up your heating system
It's tempting to wait until your heating system encounters a problem before calling for service. But choosing to pay for a tune-up in the lead-up to the coldest months of the year can help you make sure that your equipment is running efficiently.
If the technician spots a problem, they can make the appropriate adjustments before you overspend on energy costs.
As a bonus, getting a tune-up might help you avoid a catastrophic failure of your heating system in the dead of winter.
Lower your hot water temperature
Did you know that you can adjust the temperature of your hot water? Most water heaters allow you to set your own water temperature. If you lower your warm setting to 120°F, you could save a significant amount of emergency, according to the Department of Energy.
Get cozy
As you prepare for the winter ahead, consider adding some blankets around the house. If you can reach for a blanket instead of raising the thermostat, you could save on energy costs.
For example, preemptively setting up blankets in your living room and bedroom might help you stay warm without the extra heating costs.
Replace light bulbs with LED bulbs
As your lightbulbs die, consider replacing them with ENERGY STAR-certified LED bulbs. Not only can these lights last a long time, but they can also help you save on utility bills.
Do a home energy audit
A home energy audit can help you pinpoint areas where you could improve energy efficiency. For example, an audit might help you find a weak point where air is leaking to the outside.
Many utility companies offer free home energy audits. Give yours a call to see if they offer this free service to get personalized recommendations for energy savings this winter.
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Reverse your ceiling fans
When you reverse the motor in your ceiling fans, it rotates clockwise and creates an updraft. This forces warm air near the ceiling down into your living space. Although this won't change the temperature of your room, it might help you feel warm without adjusting the thermostat.
Switch to cold water laundry
When you wash clothes, approximately 90% of the energy consumed is due to warming the water. If possible, consider switching to doing your laundry with cold water.
Even if you don't want to use cold water, switching from hot to warm could also help you tap into significant energy savings, according to ENERGY STAR.
Bottom line
Energy costs can eat into your budget, especially during the brutal winter months. Taking action today can help you save money on your utility bills this winter.
A few other small actions you can take include closing off vents in unused rooms in your home, purchasing some warmer clothes to have handy, and unplugging any unused electronics to avoid any unnecessary power draw.
As you shore up your budget, avoid these surprising financial mistakes to keep yourself and your wallet warmer this winter season.
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