Home Energy Saving Tips For The Winter Season
Cold winter nights—the real deal, extra blanket and a cup of something hot required ones—have officially arrived here in northern New Jersey, with the polar vortex making an appearance for the first time since 2019.
With plummeting temperatures, the job of your furnace or boiler just got a whole lot harder and there’s a great chance your fuel and energy bills will show it.
The question is, how can you keep those bills as low as possible? While upgrading to new, high-efficiency heating equipment might be the ideal way to go, you may not be ready to take that kind of step. That’s OK: much of your heating system performance comes down to just plain being smarter.
Home Efficiency Checklist
Here are eight smart, cost-effective ways to help you save energy—and save in energy costs—this winter.
- Give your equipment regular breaks—Install an economical programmable thermostat to lower temperatures when no one is home, or when people are asleep. It will lower your bills, reduce wear and tear on your equipment, and add years to the life of your furnace.
- Air seal your home—Air leaks can cost you hundreds of dollars in energy bills every year. For a minimal investment, you can seal your windows, doors, electrical outlets, and more with caulk, weatherstripping, doorsweeps, and plastic sheeting. Consider adding insulation as well, as it’s one of the best bang-for-the-buck investments you can make in your home comfort.
- Check and replace filters regularly—If you have a forced air system, keeping your furnace filter clean is critical to maintaining efficiency and preventing long-term problems with your equipment—including preventable breakdowns.
- Insulate your hot water tank and pipes—Minimize “standing loss” in your home water heating system by insulating your water heater storage tank with a jacket, and by insulating hot water pipes in untreated areas of your home (attics, basements, and crawl spaces).
- Drop your water heater thermostat temperature—Many water heaters have a factory-set temperature of 140 degrees which is more than you need for hot showers and clean clothes and dishes. Drop the temperature to 120 degrees and you’ll save about 15 percent on your water heating bill without sacrificing any comfort.
- Take advantage of the greenhouse effect—Keep windows open to absorb “free” heat from the sun during the day, and then keep that heat from escaping by closing (thick, insulated) curtains at night.
- Close your fireplace damper when not in use—An open fireplace damper loses as much heat as an open window; close it when you’re not using your fireplace.
- Keep vents and radiators free—Keep your baseboard heaters, radiators, and heat registers clear from furniture, drapery or rugs so hot air can flow more easily into the room.
Stay warm and be smart this winter! Call Bolkema Fuel Company today heating service or a FREE estimate on heating equipment installations in northern NJ!