During the winter, heating the home can cause energy expenses to skyrocket. This winter, however, homeowners can actually save money on energy. The right maintenance and strategies can drastically improve a home’s energy efficiency.
Complete Energy-Saving Home Maintenance
It’s never too late to prepare a home for winter. Weatherproofing a home keeps the cold air out, and the heated air in. Homeowners who follow these energy-saving techniques will be well prepared to enjoy decreased energy expenses in every season.
- Check the exterior of the home for holes or gaps. Seal small openings with caulk, and patch larger holes with drywall or sheetrock.
- Inspect the weather-stripping around doors and windows. If necessary, reapply caulk around the windows and replace the foam around doors. Add sweeps to the bottoms of exterior doors.
- Use window locks to keep windows sealed as tightly as possible.
- Clean heating equipment regularly, as clogs can decrease output. Replace the filter furnace as needed.
- Inspect insulation in the basement, attic, ceilings, and exterior walls to ensure that it reaches recommended levels.
- Cover the pool and run the filter for only two hours per day.
- Place aluminum foil on the walls behind each radiator, to reflect heat back inside the room.
(more…)
