Simple Tips to Cut Down on Winter Heating Bills

For most homeowners, utilities account for a large portion of the monthly budget, surpassed only by food and housing costs. The winter months can be particularly brutal, as energy costs rise in conjunction with falling temperatures. If you want to save a little more on your heating bills this winter, as well as soften the impact your home has on the environment, follow these tips from Handyman Connection.

Adjust the Nighttime Temperature

Many people keep their thermostats set unnecessarily high at night. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lowering the temperature on your thermostat by 7-10 degrees for eight hours while you sleep can save you as much as 10 percent a year on energy bills. A programmable thermostat makes this easy to do. If the house seems a little too chilly to you, just pile on the blankets or invest in warm flannel sheets and a down comforter. Cooler homes are more conducive to a sound sleep, so keeping the house colder at night could help you sleep better too.

Install or Replace Weatherstripping & Caulking

Take a moment to examine the weatherstripping around your windows and doors. If you notice that the majority is old, worn or missing completely, new weatherstripping needs to be installed. This is a quick, easy and affordable way to block drafts and keep heated air inside where it belongs. To further reduce heat loss, use caulking as well as weatherstripping around leaky windows, so that there is no chance of any air leaking in or out of your home. If you don’t have the time to do this and need a handyman, Handyman Connection is always happy to help.

Take Advantage of Ceiling Fans

As we all know, warm air rises, but having all that warm air hanging out around your ceiling isn’t going to do much good in keeping you and your home comfortable this winter. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to fix this problem: turn on the ceiling fan. Instead of pulling the warm air up, as it does in the summer, reversing your ceiling fan to move clockwise and turning it to a low setting will help to gently push the warm air back down.

Get Help From the Pros

Winter is a great time for indoor home remodeling projects. Just plan what you want to have done, then call on Handyman Connection to utilize our carpentry services. To set up a consultation with one of our experienced craftsmen, contact us today at a 1-800-88-HANDY or submit an online quote request.