While it may not be โofficiallyโ the winter season yet, temperatures are getting undoubtedly cold. And you know what that means โ when the thermostat drops, your heating costs climb.
Winter, although a fan-favorite season, brings increased home energy consumption. With rising energy bills and heating costs, itโs important to know how to cut these costs as much as possible. In this blog, we explore practical home improvement projects that can reduce heating costs and increase energy efficiency during the cold months.
Efforts That Can Help Decrease Your Bill
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Inspect and Seal Windows & Doors
Heat escapes through small gaps and cracks around windows and doors, making heating systems work harder. By installing weatherstripping, caulking, and even storm windows, you can equip your home with extra insulation and seal drafts to keep your home warmer.
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Install a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Traditional thermostats often run heating systems when not necessary and ultimately waste energy. By installing a smart thermostat to automate temperature adjustments based on occupancy and time of day, you can optimize energy use and cut heating costs without sacrificing comfort.
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Use Ceiling Fans in Reverse
Warm air naturally rises, leaving rooms cooler at lower levels and impacting thermostat settings. By reversing ceiling fan direction in the winter to push warm air down, this small adjustment improves the distribution of heat, allowing for more efficient use of your heating system.
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Get a Heating System Tune-Up
Inefficient heating systems use more energy than necessary, leading to higher bills. Schedule a professional tune-up of your furnace, boiler, or heat pump to ensure peak performance. Regular maintenance helps the system run more efficiently, using less energy and reducing costs.
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Install a Humidifier
Dry winter air can make your home feel colder than it actually is, leading you to turn up the heat unnecessarily. Install a whole-house humidifier or use portable humidifiers in key rooms to add moisture to the air. Humid air feels warmer, allowing you to keep the thermostat lower while maintaining comfort.
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Insulate Pipes & Water Heater
Uninsulated pipes and water heaters lose heat quickly, causing the heating system to work harder. By insulating hot water pipes and your water heater tank to reduce heat loss, youโll be reducing the amount of energy needed to keep water hot.
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Seal Ductwork
Leaky ducts can allow heated air to escape, reducing the efficiency of your heating system. Inspect ductwork for leaks and seal them with foil tape or mastic to ensure heated air reaches its intended destination.
How You Can Finance These Home Improvement Projects & Save
It may not seem like an expensive chore right now, but these home improvement projects can add up quickly. While these projects are sure to save you money in the long run, financing these improvements can be stressful to take on financially.
Itโs important to keep yourself financially comfortable while making your home comfortable. Penn Community Bank offers a variety of ways to finance home improvement projects: Personal Loans, Home Equity Loans, Home Equity Line of Credit, and Credit Cards, to name a few. Visit our website or visit a nearby branch for more information.
