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In North Carolina, the transition from air conditioning to heat can be abrupt. Colder temperatures introduce home maintenance challenges, but they also bring opportunities to make small changes that have big impacts on your energy usage.
If you want to keep your utility bills in check this winter, Home Repair Lab has you covered. Here are our top 6 easily accomplished (but often overlooked) tips for getting cold-weather ready. Add them to your to-do list each fall, and watch the savings stack up year after year.
It almost sounds too simple to be true, but changing the direction of your fans can make your home feel warmer without ever touching the thermostat.
Under normal conditions, warm air rises and cold air sinks. Switching your fans to spin counterclockwise when the weather cools will cause them to push warm air down into living spaces, preventing it from escaping through the ceiling. This flip of a switch can save you up to $131 each winter.
There are many very good reasons to be vigilant about replacing your air filters throughout the year, but it becomes particularly important when temperatures are harsh.
When filters are clogged and dirty, your HVAC system has to use more energy to push air through a matrix of trapped dust, particles, and pet hair. When the HVAC has to draw more power to do its job, its lifespan decreases and your electric bill increases. Considering a new HVAC system tends to cost more than a used car, it’s in every homeowner’s best interest to treat it with care.
Keeping your filter clean is the easiest, least expensive, and most effective thing you can do to help your HVAC work smarter, not harder.
This one may not save you money, but it can prevent a tragedy. If your home has gas heat, always make sure your carbon monoxide detector is in good working order before you turn up the thermostat.
Carbon monoxide gas is colorless and odorless, and it doesn’t take long for leaks to turn deadly in unventilated spaces. Create a habit of testing every fall before the heat goes on, and give yourself invaluable peace of mind.
Storing your garden hose each winter doesn’t just save you a hose — it could save your pipes.
There’s always a little water left behind in your hose from the last use of the season, and small amounts of stagnant water freeze quickly. If it’s left connected to the spigot in cold weather, the water in the hose can start a chain reaction of freezing that extends up the hose, into the hose bib, and into your pipes. Avoid disaster and bring your garden hose into the garage for the winter.
If you aren’t claustrophobic, like arts and crafts, and are willing to spend a little money, insulating the water pipes in your crawlspace can make a big long-term difference in your home’s efficiency.
The process essentially involves wrapping insulation (think of a pool noodle) around exposed pipes, and can be easily DIYed over a weekend. The insulation prevents heat from dissipating into the crawlspace, so hot water stays hot with less energy and strain on your water heater.
With a modest upfront investment of time and money, you can extend the life of your unit and watch your energy savings add up over time.
If you have an older home or your foundation has settled, you may be able to see daylight around your door frame or feel cold air leaking under closed windows. A little self-adhesive weather stripping is an extremely inexpensive, simple way to keep your heat from escaping outside and lower your utility bills.
A less-obvious energy leach: the gaps around windows that may be concealed by molding. Older houses (or brand new houses with improperly installed windows) may have an uninsulated gap between the window and the 2x4. When you multiply this 1-2 square inch gap by the number of windows in your home, you may be living with the equivalent of a wide-open window all winter long.
Want to check for gaps without removing the molding? Hold a lit incense stick next to your closed window.
It’s not alchemy; it’s science! If the smoke tries to flow outside towards the denser, colder outside air, you have an air gap. Insulate the empty space, and you’ll be stunned by how much heat you retain during the coldest part of the year.
Want to get your home winter-ready? Home Repair Lab is here to help owners feel confident with DIY tasks of all sizes. Download our Winter Maintenance Checklist, and discover approachable ways to keep your home in good working order all year long.
We get it. Let’s hop on a quick call to help you feel confident about your next step.
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