Winter can be pretty rough – on the body and the wallet! With gas and electric bills higher than ever, consumers everywhere are trying to cut back on expenses in any way that they can. But is that really fair – to have to skimp on a gift or two so that you can stay warm this winter? We say no, which is why we want to help you winterize your home in the simplest ways we know how.
#1: Escape the Draft
No, we don’t mean a military draft (it’s nothing so illegal!); we mean the draft that sneaks in every year beneath your doors. This fix is so easy, you’re going to wonder why you never thought of it (or utilized it!): the draft snake. First adopted during the Great Depression, the draft snake can be anything from a rolled up towel to a piece of fabric filled with rice, beans, sand or any other pliable, heavy substance. If you want to get really fancy, you can buy one pre-made in various fun shapes, like a wiener dog or reindeer.
Effectiveness: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts can waste anywhere from 5-30% of the energy in your home!
#2: Bubble Wrap Your Windows
Whether your own your own home and haven’t gotten around to replacing those old, outdated windows, or whether you rent and simply can’t replace the windows, old windows can let in a lot of cold air, countering the hot air your pumping through your vents. The solution? Bubble wrap.
Bubble wrap is great at trapping pockets of cold air that make your home the icebox that it is during the winter. Although it may look funny, it’s well worth the occasional smirk or two from guests to keep your home warm and your heat bill low.
There is also plastic window wrap that many stores sell for as cheap as $1 that I hear does the trick just as well, and that may look less laughable.
#3: Caulk the Gaps
The tiny gaps that you see between windows and wall, or around doors, or near the ceiling, actually have a much greater impact on the efficiency of your home than you might think. One day when you’re not busy, just go from room to room and caulk any gaps that you see. It’ll take you maybe 2 hours to do 3-4 rooms, but will make all the difference!
Bonus: it’ll keep all those bugs looking for warmth OUT.
#4: Change the Direction Of Your Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans in your home, you’re in luck! While most people wouldn’t think to run their fans during the dead of winter, running them in reverse is actually a very smart thing to do. Most people don’t know, but a counter-clockwise rotation produces a cooling breeze, while a clockwise rotation produces warmer air. So, not only are you producing more warm air to circulate throughout your home for virtually free, but you’re also keeping all the hot air from becoming stale and unbearable.
Effectiveness: Families that do this report a 10% savings on their heating bill.
#5: Storm Doors
The cracks that you see between the door jambs and doors of your home actually let in a lot of cold air, and release a lot of the warm air. A simple fix to there is installing a storm door, which will reduce the airflow significantly.
Effectiveness: According to The Daily Green, a storm door can increase energy efficiency by as much as 45%!
#6: Control Your Thermostat
A lot of families will run their thermostats all night and all day on high, even during the hours when they won’t enjoy the warmth. This is a big fat waste of money.
If everyone in your home has adequate blankets on their beds, set your thermostat to 50 or 55 degrees, then bundle up! And when everyone leaves for work and school during the day, do the same, because no one is going to be home to enjoy the heat anyways. Yes, you’ll have to bundle up in the morning and after work until the thermostat kicks back on, but the savings will be well worth the brief chill.
Effectiveness: You’ll save up to 10% on your energy bill by using the heat just a little less.
#7: Insulate!
A lot of older homes don’t have adequate insulation, which is bad news for your wallet, as the heat your pumping just rises right out! One of the best ways to stay toasty this winter is to pile on the insulation in your walls, attic floor and basement.
Effectiveness: You’ll save at least a quarter of your heat by insulating your home properly.
#8: Take Out The Window A/C Unit
Just because it’s not turned out does not mean that it’s not still pumping in cool air! Window units are one of the biggest culprits for letting cold air in and hot warm out. Depending on how many units you have placed throughout your home, you could be wasting up to 30% of your home’s energy!
#9: Turn Off Your A/C Water Valve
This won’t exactly save you money on your heating and energy bill, but it will save you from having to buy an entirely new A/C unit next summer. A lot of water valves leak during the winter, even if they’re turned off, which leads to clogged pipes. And clogged pipes freeze, and eventually crack. To avoid all this, simple shot off your A/C water valve and drain the pipes of any left over water.
#10: Lower The Temperature On Your Water Heater
The default temperature on most water heaters is 140 degrees F, but most households only need a setting of 120 degrees F. Yet, their still paying for that extra 20 degrees. Do yourself a favor, and lower the temperature on your water heater by at least 20 degrees.
Effectiveness: Doing this will save you 6-10% on your energy bills.
#1: Escape the Draft
No, we don’t mean a military draft (it’s nothing so illegal!); we mean the draft that sneaks in every year beneath your doors. This fix is so easy, you’re going to wonder why you never thought of it (or utilized it!): the draft snake. First adopted during the Great Depression, the draft snake can be anything from a rolled up towel to a piece of fabric filled with rice, beans, sand or any other pliable, heavy substance. If you want to get really fancy, you can buy one pre-made in various fun shapes, like a wiener dog or reindeer.
Effectiveness: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts can waste anywhere from 5-30% of the energy in your home!
#2: Bubble Wrap Your Windows
Whether your own your own home and haven’t gotten around to replacing those old, outdated windows, or whether you rent and simply can’t replace the windows, old windows can let in a lot of cold air, countering the hot air your pumping through your vents. The solution? Bubble wrap.
Bubble wrap is great at trapping pockets of cold air that make your home the icebox that it is during the winter. Although it may look funny, it’s well worth the occasional smirk or two from guests to keep your home warm and your heat bill low.
There is also plastic window wrap that many stores sell for as cheap as $1 that I hear does the trick just as well, and that may look less laughable.
#3: Caulk the Gaps
The tiny gaps that you see between windows and wall, or around doors, or near the ceiling, actually have a much greater impact on the efficiency of your home than you might think. One day when you’re not busy, just go from room to room and caulk any gaps that you see. It’ll take you maybe 2 hours to do 3-4 rooms, but will make all the difference!
Bonus: it’ll keep all those bugs looking for warmth OUT.
#4: Change the Direction Of Your Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans in your home, you’re in luck! While most people wouldn’t think to run their fans during the dead of winter, running them in reverse is actually a very smart thing to do. Most people don’t know, but a counter-clockwise rotation produces a cooling breeze, while a clockwise rotation produces warmer air. So, not only are you producing more warm air to circulate throughout your home for virtually free, but you’re also keeping all the hot air from becoming stale and unbearable.
Effectiveness: Families that do this report a 10% savings on their heating bill.
#5: Storm Doors
The cracks that you see between the door jambs and doors of your home actually let in a lot of cold air, and release a lot of the warm air. A simple fix to there is installing a storm door, which will reduce the airflow significantly.
Effectiveness: According to The Daily Green, a storm door can increase energy efficiency by as much as 45%!
#6: Control Your Thermostat
A lot of families will run their thermostats all night and all day on high, even during the hours when they won’t enjoy the warmth. This is a big fat waste of money.
If everyone in your home has adequate blankets on their beds, set your thermostat to 50 or 55 degrees, then bundle up! And when everyone leaves for work and school during the day, do the same, because no one is going to be home to enjoy the heat anyways. Yes, you’ll have to bundle up in the morning and after work until the thermostat kicks back on, but the savings will be well worth the brief chill.
Effectiveness: You’ll save up to 10% on your energy bill by using the heat just a little less.
#7: Insulate!
A lot of older homes don’t have adequate insulation, which is bad news for your wallet, as the heat your pumping just rises right out! One of the best ways to stay toasty this winter is to pile on the insulation in your walls, attic floor and basement.
Effectiveness: You’ll save at least a quarter of your heat by insulating your home properly.
#8: Take Out The Window A/C Unit
Just because it’s not turned out does not mean that it’s not still pumping in cool air! Window units are one of the biggest culprits for letting cold air in and hot warm out. Depending on how many units you have placed throughout your home, you could be wasting up to 30% of your home’s energy!
#9: Turn Off Your A/C Water Valve
This won’t exactly save you money on your heating and energy bill, but it will save you from having to buy an entirely new A/C unit next summer. A lot of water valves leak during the winter, even if they’re turned off, which leads to clogged pipes. And clogged pipes freeze, and eventually crack. To avoid all this, simple shot off your A/C water valve and drain the pipes of any left over water.
#10: Lower The Temperature On Your Water Heater
The default temperature on most water heaters is 140 degrees F, but most households only need a setting of 120 degrees F. Yet, their still paying for that extra 20 degrees. Do yourself a favor, and lower the temperature on your water heater by at least 20 degrees.
Effectiveness: Doing this will save you 6-10% on your energy bills.