Winter has officially arrived in Western Washington, and with some serious determination no less!
Here are a few quick, easy and affordable tips to keep your home cozy and your bills down while we brave the cold weather.
- Insulate that attic
We all know heat rises, right? So why leave the highest point in your home un-insulated, allowing all the heat to rise right out of your home? That makes for a chillier environment and a higher heating bill. Fortunately, adding some insulation to your crawl space can solve the problem in a jiffy!Start by looking around your attic for any exposed 2×4’s covering your attic floor. Exposed 2×4’s are a good indicator that you should add more insulation. The great news is that this is an easy DIY fix, provided you’re ok getting your hands dirty! But not your bare hands, as fiberglass insulation should not make direct contact with your skin. Wear gloves and sleeves when installing it. If you have extra insulation left after you’re done, use it to pack around basement windows and doors for extra warmth!
- Reverse your ceiling fan
This might sound crazy, but, your ceiling fan may be as much a wintertime asset as it is a summertime one. As discussed previously, heat rises, so switching the direction of your ceiling fan’s rotation can act to push hot air down and circulate that heat around the room, keeping you warmer. Many ceiling fan models have a switch to reverse the direction, making this trick even easier to pull off, and it can save you up to 20-30% on your heating bills! - Buy an Energy Monitor
Although slightly pricier than some other options, an energy monitor could help you save in the long run as it will let you know about your electrical usage in real time. Along with that, it will also project your monthly bill, giving you an idea of what you’ll be spending, and therefore letting you know how many of these other tricks you should be trying!![]()
- Get rid of snow and ice around your home and car
Living in a winter wonderland? It may be beautiful, but a blanket of snow can make life a lot more challenging. Luckily, learning how to remove ice and snow from your home and car is easier than you think, and likely more affordable too!To defrost windows, fill a spray bottle with water and rubbing alcohol, spray windows completely, and then pat them dry with a towel. Remove ice from car windshields, doors and locks, by simply pouring lukewarm (never hot!) water over the area that needs to be de-frosted and repeat as many times as necessary.
If you know snow is coming, cover your car with a tarp before it gets going, to avoid the need for heavy scraping and deicing in the morning. When you need to leave, just whisk it off and be on your way, safely!
- Insulate your pipes
Have you even encountered a frozen water pipe? If not, consider your self lucky! It’s a nightmare, and can be an expensive one at that.To avoid encountering this problem, start by determining whether your pipes are good candidates for insulation or not. Check them by gently touching them. If they are warm to the touch, you can start insulating. Use the same method to determine whether your hot water heater would benefit from insulation, as well.
To start insulating, head to a hardware store and look for pre-cut insulation foam for pipes. Look for the insulation foam with the highest “R-value,” which is a measurement of how much heat the insulation can block. To install, just cut the foam to the size of your pipes, and you’re insulated!
- Change the filter on your heating system
Working on your heating system can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! An easy way to save a few bucks on your heat bill is to simply change the filter on your heating system. The filter itself will run you around $10, and this small change will keep your heating system running smoothly making it work less hard and saving you money. Woohoo! - Use draft guards
It may seem overly simple or a bit old fashioned, but it really works! Start with a rolled-up towel or blanket or a pillowcase filled with sand or kitty litter and place it up against the bottom of any door leading to the outside. This will keep that chilly weather safely outside and keep that expensive heat inside with you, where it belongs. If you don’t feel like getting your DIY on or simply want a more “elegant” solution, you can also purchase pre-made draft guards for in the range of $10-$15. Either way, it will do the trick!![]()
- Get a Chimney Balloon
Fireplaces add a charming touch to any home, but, they can also be a cause of major drafts. When not in use, that fireplace’s chimney is likely sucking a lot of heat out of your home and/or causing a draft, and adding $$$ to your heat bill. Luckily, there’s a very easy fix for this. Purchase a chimney balloon (available at your local hardware store or on Amazon) and install according to directions. The idea is that the balloon will be inflated tight against the walls of the chimney, keeping it air-tight, and eliminating any draft/heat sucking. - Check your water heater’s temperature
Water heaters are often set at a higher temperature than necessary upon installation, around 140 degrees. There should be no need to hire a technician to turn the temperature down for you – it’s a relatively easy process you should be able to do yourself.Test your current water temperature by letting the hot water run for three minutes, fill up a cup with hot water and stick a thermometer in. Double check by running another test the next day. If the temperature reads at higher than 120, you should feel free to lower the temperature without risk of it becoming too cold (don’t go lower than 120 degrees).
To do so, find your water heater, look for the control dial located on the outside of your gas unit, or the two dials at the top and bottom of an electric unit, and adjust to your desired temperature. Easy as pie!
- Cozy up that Water Heater with its own blanket
While we’re on the subject of hot water heaters, another great way to cut costs on water heat is to simply insulate your water heater. Water heater blankets are pretty inexpensive (available on Amazon or at your local hardware store) and will help reduce heat lost on the sides of your water heater by 25-40%, saving you money. - Get Honeycomb Cellular Shades
Honeycomb cellular shades help to keep cold air and drafts out, not just from the window, but from around the window frame too. Be sure to keep them closed in the evenings when it gets dark and colder but open them in the morning, so the house can soak up the warmth and light of the sun while it’s available. This is especially effective if you have double paned windows to begin with. - Draw your shades
If you’re not ready to commit to getting the above-mentioned Honeycomb shades, the ones you have already can still help you save some heat and money. Be sure you close your blinds or draw your curtains shut every night. Not only will this eliminate the chance of your neighbors knowing how much terrible television you are watching but it will also keep that heat inside, and the cold out. Again, be sure you open them in the morning to let the sunshine in!
There are many tips available out there to help keep your home warm and comfortable during the colder months, but we hope this small collection gets you off on the right foot. There’s nothing better than being warm and cozy in your home this time of year, especially if you’re saving money doing so!
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