The New Jersey winters can be harsh and most of us are spending a lot of time at home this winter. Nobody wants a drafty house or to feel a chill while you’re trying to watch TV. With a little preparation and some tips, you can conserve the heat in your home this winter. Conserving heat will not only help keep your family warm but save you money and prevent skyrocketing energy bills.
Keep the Heat Inside Your Home
One of the first things you should do to conserve heat is to make sure your warm air isn’t escaping from your home. Did you know up to a third of an average home’s heat loss happens through windows and doors? Heat can also escape your home through other various cracks such as electrical outlets, baseboards, and attic hatches. Sealing these openings is a great way to reduce drafts and conserve heat. Some solutions include caulking leaks and weather-stripping your windows, which can help you save an additional five to ten percent annually on heating and cooling bills.
Close the Curtains
Curtains aren’t just for decorations! They can also help reduce heat loss in your home by up to ten percent. The best curtains for conserving heat are ones made of heavy material and ones that are hung as close to your window as possible. At night, you should close all your curtains to help with any drafts or leaks coming from your window. But, during the day you can open them all up and help boost your temperatures through solar energy.
Lower Your Thermostat
Turning down your thermostat by ten to fifteen degrees at night can help you save an additional ten percent on energy bills. It’s also a good idea to look into smart thermostats, which are easily programmable to lower the temperature either when you’re sleeping or away from your home.
Service Your HVAC System Regularly
Servicing your furnace at least once a year is the best way to ensure you are conserving heat and your home is running as efficiently as possible. If your furnace is eight years or older, it’s highly recommended that you replace it. The more diligent you are about tune-ups, the longer your furnace will last. In between tune-ups, remember to change your furnace filters regularly. Changing your filter at least once a month will help winterize your home and allow the warm air to flow properly.
Our professionals are experts at winterizing New Jersey homes. Call an Air Expert HVAC tech at (732) 759-0934 to schedule a service today.