Winter is going to be here before we know it. The holidays will rapidly creep up on us. At the same time, that cold chill will enter the air and we will see our energy bills climb sky-high as we try to heat our homes. Are you ready? There are things that you can do today to reduce the amount of money you will spend on this winter's energy bills.
The first thing that you want to do is to take a good long look at your home furnace. The furnace in your home should be an energy-efficient machine. It should be freshly serviced so that it can run at optimum ability. It's worth it to hire a professional to "tune up" the furnace now so it can last you throughout the winter months. It is important to replace the furnace filter now. Stock up on filters because replacing the filter once a month can significantly reduce the appliance's energy waste.
The next thing that you want to do is to look closely at all of the areas where warm air comes into your home. For example, if you have home radiators then you want to make sure that they are clean. You also want to make sure that drapes and furniture do not block them from bringing heat all throughout a room. Look also at baseboard heaters.
Of course, whenever you are updating your home for a new season, you want to take a look at where energy leaks may be. You don't want to fix up your heating system only to have that heat escape through cracks in the windows. Often all that you need to make your home more energy-efficient is a little bit of caulk. Windows, doors, places where pipes enter the walls and any gaps around vents can all be sealed up with caulk. Remember that one winter energy leak spot is the fireplace; always close the damper on fireplaces (and wood stoves) when they aren't in use.
One thing that a lot of people forget about in the winter is their home's pool. You probably don't use it during the cooler months of the year but it may still be stealing the home's energy. If you choose not to drain it for the winter then you should limit filtering to one or two hours per day.
Finally, don't forget that you have the right to choose your electricity provider. Now is the time to compare electricity rates in your area if you haven't already. Getting the best energy rates will allow you to avoid the shock of those super high winter energy bills that so many of us fear are about to be upon us.