Caulking around windows and doors to seal air leaks will keep a house more comfortable in the winter.
While enjoying the beauty of fall’s changing leaves, Southside Electric Cooperative wants members to also prepare their homes for the changing weather. These proven ideas listed below will help members save money on their electric bills and add warmth to their homes.
- Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the house and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
- When home and awake, set the thermostat as low as is comfortable. When asleep or away from home, turn the thermostat back 10-15 degrees for eight hours to save money.
- Use caulk or weather stripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows.
- Replace filters in heating systems regularly.
- Make sure furniture and other objects are not blocking heating vents.
- A gas or woodstove insert turns a replace into an additional way to heat the house.
- Reversing ceiling fans allows them to push warm air downward and recirculate it through the room.
- Look for a switch on the motor housing to set the blades spinning clockwise.
- Turn down the temperature on the water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Unplug electronic devices that are not being used.
- To reduce system demand, avoid running major appliances at one time.
- Using a space heater to warm a limited area helps but it is also costly. A 1,500-watt electric space heater costs at least $5 to use per 24 hours. Trying to heat a full room with a space heater means it will run non-stop. Use only in a small area and turn it o when no one is there.
- Contact SEC about an energy audit. It is a free service offered by the Cooperative and can help improve a home’s comfort and energy use. If the audit is performed in the fall, there may be time to install energy-efficient heating systems for the colder months. Call Energy Management Advisor Scott Wallace at 1-800-552-2118 to set up an appointment.
Earlier this year, Wallace presented energy tips at two community workshops entitled “Low-Cost Ways to Save Big on Your Bill.” Click the YouTube icon on sec.coop to watch the presentation and learn more ways to save.