Between heating and lighting your home, energy usage soars when the days are cold and short. As temperatures begin to drop in Martinsburg, West Virginia, you’re probably wondering how to reduce your energy costs this winter. Follow these easy and affordable tips to save energy, increase comfort, and reduce your utility bill this season.
Bring the Sunshine into Your Martinsburg, WV Home
If you have south-facing windows and the sun is shining, open your curtains or blinds and let the sunshine in for as long as possible. It’s a natural way to heat your home and is effective even on frigid winter days. This free heat source is called passive solar heating.
When the sunlight comes into your home through your windows and shines on the walls and floors, these spaces can absorb and store the solar heat. Just be sure to pull down your blinds and close the curtains after the sun sets to help keep the warmth in your home. The objects that stored the sun’s warmth release the heat into the house as the room cools down through the night.
Detect and Seal Leaks
Leaks in your home allow warm air to escape while chilly air pours inside. Finding and sealing leaks can instantly improve your home’s energy efficiency. The following places are where you’re most likely to find leaks yet can perform a few home projects for energy savings:
- Fireplaces and chimneys: Check your damper to be sure it’s closed when your fireplace is not in use. If you don’t use your fireplace, consider blocking up the chimney to eliminate heat loss.
- Doors and windows: Apply caulk to cracks around windows or door frames. Add new weatherstripping, or replace old strips. Block drafts coming in from under doorways with an inexpensive door draft blocker. Install thermal-insulated, energy-efficient curtains.
- Outlets and switches: Remove the cover plates from your electrical outlets, add a foam gasket to each, and then replace the covers.
Install a Smarter Thermostat
Investing a small amount of your savings into new HVAC technology, such as a smart thermostat, pays off eventually. A smart thermostat reduces your energy consumption over time through programming. The savings you experience will offset the cost of the device. Rebates from utility companies decrease the investment price, as well. Check with your local provider to learn how to apply for a cash back rebate for installing an energy-efficient product.
Deciding which smart thermostat is the best option for your home is easy when you rely on us. We can talk you through the choices, install the unit, and show you how to set a program so you won’t waste heating your home when no one is home. Some models even learn your habits and then set the most energy-efficient program possible.
Schedule Maintenance for Your Heating System
A poorly functioning heating system could be driving up your utility costs all winter despite energy-saving methods you’ve already tried. Regular heating maintenance by professional technicians keeps your system running as efficiently as possible. They thoroughly clean and inspect the entire unit to ensure all is working as it should be. Preventive tuneups are an affordable and necessary investment because they save energy and help homeowners avoid costly breakdowns and repairs during peak heating times.
Schedule heating services at least once a year, preferably before the cold weather sets in for good. It’s best to have everything up and running before your heating system will have to work hard to warm your home. Changing your furnace’s filters at least once a month is a quick and inexpensive maintenance step you can do yourself to promote proper system airflow and cleanliness. Purchase filters when they’re on sale in the off-season, and keep a stockpile on hand for easy, low-cost self-maintenance.
Don’t suffer in the cold and worry about facing high energy bills this winter. Our professional technicians provide top HVAC services in the Martinsburg, West Virginia, area. Give Griffith Energy Services a call today to see how we can help improve your HVAC system and energy savings. We look forward to serving you!
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