Whether you rent or own, there are inexpensive and easy things you can do around the house to cut your energy demand and save a few bucks. Here are a few tips to prepare your home for the winter months:
- Reverse Ceiling Fans – Many ceiling fans have a reverse mode. When they turn clockwise, they push down the warm air that pools near the ceiling and circulates it through the room. Magic!
- Draft-Proof Your Home – Drafts can waste up to 30% of a home’s energy. Try testing doors, windows and chimneys with incense. Where the smoke wavers, a draft is blowing in. To seal leaks, make or buy a “door snake” and caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows
- Insulate Your Windows – Hang heavy curtains to keep the cold out and the cozy in.
- Cover Bare Floors – Laminate, wood and tile floors look great, but they can cause you to lose heat during the winter. Consider adding rugs over your bare floors to keep your feet warm and prevent heat loss.
- Change Your Furnace Filters – Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase the energy demand of your furnace by making it work harder. Make sure to replace your furnace filters at least every three months!
- Take Care of Low-Hanging Branches – Trees surrounding your home can cause severe damage to your house and even cause you to lose power. The weight of snow after a storm can cause limbs to snap, or bring the entire tree down on your home or power lines.
