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With colder temperatures in the forecast, it’s normal for people to dread the next electric bill. As temperatures drop, electricity usage rises. Many people struggle with having to choose between comfort and finances. At A&R, we don’t think you should have to choose between staying warm and keeping money in your wallet.

When cold weather hits your home, it’s always a good idea to ensure you’re house is prepared. If your home isn’t winterized, turning up the heat isn’t enough. Taking the time to inspect certain aspects of your home will help you keep the cost of heating your home down this winter.

Seal your Doors and Windows

Over time, the sealant on your doors and windows might start to break down. When a house settles, walls and other structural points might shift, creating gaps where windows and doors are installed. These gaps usually let in drafts from outside.
The best way to protect yourself from the outside elements is to weatherstrip your windows and doors. These strips seal the spaces around windows and doors where air might travel through. Doing so will keep your heater from having to compensate for this cooler air infiltrating your home.

Check Your Home’s Insulation

You should inspect the insulation in your home as often as your roof or HVAC system. Making sure that your insulation is working efficiently is essential to maintaining the comfort of your home. Over time, insulation may accumulate dust, or if your roof is leaking, insulation may get damaged and become moldy. If you’re dealing with either of these issues, your insulation is not in good shape.

Replacing damaged or old insulation helps keep your house warm. For example, insulation in your attic is beneficial because it keeps warm air from escaping through your roof, which allows your heater to maintain comfortable temperatures without working overtime.

Rugs Can Warm Up A Room

Hardwood floors can be harsh on your feet in the colder months. Few things are more fear-inducing than rolling out of a warm bed and instantly subjecting your feet to a cold floor. Sure it will wake you up, but there are more pleasant ways to do that.

Putting a rug on hardwood and tile floors can help warm your space. Rugs add a layer of insulation and create a barrier between your feet and the cold beneath them. While this won’t make the most significant change in the overall comfort of the air in your home, it will reduce the effects of a chill running through your body, forcing you to turn up the heat impulsively.

Use the Power of the Sun

The sun produces two of the most important aspects of life, light and heat. Without either of these things, life couldn’t exist on earth. So using the sun’s heat to power your home is always a good idea when it’s available.

Open your curtains, blinds, or drapes on sunny days to let that warm sunlight into your home. This sunlight can help heat rooms and is especially effective in smaller spaces. Close the window coverings at night to keep your room insulated and avoid drafts.

Make Sure Air Vents Aren’t Blocked

A blocked air vent is useless against the fight for warmth in your home. Obstructions like chairs, chests, and other furniture can create barriers in front of your vent that won’t allow warm air to pass through.

When an air vent is blocked, your heater has to work harder to manage the temperature through the remaining vents. To ensure you aren’t putting unneeded stress on your HVAC system, be sure that objects are located far from vents to allow the warm air to fill the space.

The days of manually adjusting your thermostat when it’s too cold or too warm are over. A smart thermostat is convenient and can help you save money on your energy bills.

Smart Thermostats are programmable, meaning that you can vary temperatures according to whether you are home or away. You can have the temperature turned down at night and back up during the day when you move throughout the house. Having the ability to adjust your thermostat on the go is helpful in case you forget.

Bundle Up!

A great way to keep your home energy efficient is to bundle up and turn the thermostat down. Of course, we always think about bundling up when we head out of the house, but it can be a helpful strategy inside of your home as well.