Winters are tough in the Twin Cities metro area, which means those heating bills can get pretty tough as well. However, there are some things the average homeowner can do around the house to help keep heating bills within reason.
Here are some surprisingly simple tips that can help lower heating bills in your home without sacrificing comfort:
- Seal your windows and doors – Windows and doors are primary avenues of heat loss in the average home. Simple tips for stopping heat loss, include replacing worn weatherstripping, sealing doors and window frames with caulk and applying clear plastic film to windows and glass doors.
- Fix drafts around electrical sockets – When located on exterior walls, electrical boxes behind plugs and switches can let in a lot of cold air. To eliminate these drafts, remove the cover plates and fill small gaps with caulk and larger ones with foam sealant. Then, add a foam gasket before putting the cover plate back in place.
- Seal holes in your home’s exterior – Areas where cables, pipes or gas lines come into your home can be a source of heat loss. Seal these holes with caulk and/or expanding foam.
- Install a programmable thermostat – Turning down the heat while the house is empty and at night can lower heating bills by up to 10 percent. Installing a programmable thermostat can ensure this is done reliably and that the temperature is set to increase just before you wake up or get home from work.
- Insulate your attic access door – Even if your attic is very well insulated, having an access door that isn’t can result in heat loss. Insulation can be attached to these doors with adhesive, keeping warm air from rising into the attic.
For more information about how to lower heating bills this winter, please feel free to contact Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been dedicated to keeping homes in the Twin Cities metro area comfortable since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about lowering heating bills and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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