Tips for Staying Warm This Winter

When the outdoor elements are harsh and cold during the winter, there is great relief in being able to retreat into the inviting warmth of your home.

However, when you consider the cost of that heat, you may not feel as comfy. The good news is that as a homeowner you can effectively reduce those costs by paying attention to your heating systems and by proactively managing them. Here are four tips on how to keep your family warm this winter for the lowest cost.

1. Winterize Your Home for More Savings

Want to save money? Start by winterizing your home and identifying areas that are susceptible to the cold.

If you have a fireplace, make sure that the flue is closed when it isn’t in use. If not, you are creating a gateway for the warm air to escape out of your home. Your home’s heat is in the most danger of escaping out of your windows, so inspect them for damage. Caulk any cracks in the seals and apply a film over top of the window. This can be done easily with a hair dryer.

Another money-saving tip is to run your ceiling fans in reverse, which will trap hot air as it rises, pushing it back down into the room.

2. Call for a Tune-Up

Your furnace is a finely tuned piece of precision equipment that needs to be in tip-top shape to run most effectively. You need to maintain it in order to achieve that. It’s a good idea to have a tune-up done seasonally.

It’s worthwhile bringing in a professional to clean system components, change the filter and inspect for damage. If there is something that needs to be fixed, you can do it now when it suits you, not when your furnace breaks down in the middle of the night in the middle of February.

3. Re-Introduce Moisture

You need the heat that your furnace provides, no question. Unfortunately, that heated air is extremely dry. You might experience irritated skin, nose, and throat. Your hair might be brittle. You may even see that your wood floors are damaged.

It’s important to install a humidifier. You can either use portable ones in specific rooms, but that means going from room to room to change and fill them. A whole-home humidifier is a one-stop shop that delivers even moisture throughout your home.

4. Install a Programmable Thermostat

As far as money-saving tools go, you don’t get much more useful than a programmable thermostat. Not only is this method convenient (you get to come home to a warm house after your day at work), you’re not wasting money on heat when you don’t need it.

Heating costs are variable; meaning that with a little elbow grease there is a lot that you can do to bring those costs down. We can help you identify what you need to do. Call experts from B & D Plumbing, Heating & A/C for information or any assistance at (763)-497-2290.