Energy-saving tips for winter.
Winter is right around the corner, and that means cooler temperatures, adverse weather, and expensive utility bills to heat your home. There are lots of steps you can take now to reduce the expense of staying warm this season, which can also help to reduce property damage from winter weather. Here are five hacks to save money by winterizing your property.
- Fill in any cracks and holes with caulking
In winter, you want to keep the warm air in and the cold air out. Believe it or not, but small holes and cracks throughout the house could be responsible for up to 25 percent of your heat loss. Start outside and check for any openings around the siding, doors, windows, faucets, and vents. Completely clean out the cracks before filling them with caulking.
- Change your HVAC furnace filter
Experts recommend replacing the filters in HVAC furnaces around every three months as well as having yearly inspections by a certified technician. Both of these tasks will increase the efficiency of your furnace as well as prevent it from overworking and breaking down when you need it the most.
- Change the direction of your ceiling fans
Warm air naturally rises. If you set your ceiling fans to rotate in a clockwise direction, it will help to push the heat downward into the middle of the room.
- Wrap exposed pipes with insulation
Pipes in the attic or basement can be susceptible to freezing. To avoid frozen pipes and burst pipes, wrap these exposed pipes in an insulation sleeve or heating tape to protect them.
- Get smart with your thermostat
Make sure you’re not heating your house unnecessarily. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that homeowners can save 10 percent on heating and cooling each year simply by programming their thermostat to be 10-15 degrees cooler for eight hours each day.
Make sure that your homeowners insurance is up to date with your needs for the winter season. Have more questions about home insurance coverage? For help securing
homeowners insurance for your property,
visit the team at Tompkins Insurance Agencies.
