The team at Crown Plumbing & Heating in Smithville, Ontario, wants to offer you some tips on the most effective ways to save money on your energy bill this winter.
Heating costs are expensive, so implementing energy- and cost-efficient ways to keep the heat inside your home during the colder months is an easy and effective way to save you money.
The first thing you should do is have your furnace on an annual maintenance program to make sure it is clean and working safely and efficiently. This is important because furnaces in need of repair have to work harder to heat your home. More important, a faulty furnace can be dangerous, as it produces carbon monoxide that must be properly vented out of your home.
Make sure all your windows and doorways are properly sealed. Simple solutions to keep them as airtight as possible include using spray foam or caulk to seal any openings around lighting fixtures or ceiling fans, and applying weatherstripping around your doors and windows. Sealing air leaks is easy way to save up to 30 per cent on your energy bill.
Proper insulation in places like your attic is crucial to keeping heat inside your home because heat rises and will escape through your attic. Ask an expert to come in to check out your current insulation to determine if it has the right R-value, which measures the amount of heat that passes through it.
Another simple thing that is often overlooked is to make sure your vents are not blocked by furniture or other objects. Blocked vents mean heat cannot be evenly distributed throughout your home, and could also result in an overheated furnace.
Make sure you have a digital thermostat that can be manually set to control the heat setting in your home. This is useful to avoid using energy in peak hours or when you do not need it; for example, while you are at work during the day.
Air ducts are akin to the lungs of your heating and cooling systems. If they are improperly designed or clogged, it can hinder airflow in your home, causing it to work harder and use more energy. Request to have them checked during your annual furnace inspection to make sure they are working efficiently.
These are just a few tips on how to save money on your energy bill this winter. For more expert advice, call Crown Plumbing & Heating at 905-945-3883 today. You can also email them with any questions you may have.
