Monday, October 23, 2017

Keeping Your Home Warm all Winter Long

Heating winter

Fall is in the air in Missouri. A sure sign that winter is not far behind, bringing cold temperatures that try to seep into your home. Keeping your home warm in the winter can be difficult and expensive. Knowing some tricks could save you big on energy costs.
  • Programmable thermostat – These handy devices keep your house toasty warm, just when you need it. Set your thermostat to warm up just before you wake and turn down when you head to bed. If you work outside the home, program it to turn down when you are away and warm up when you are heading home. Many of these smart devices can even been synced to your smartphone so you can adjust the heat remotely.
  • Let the sun shine in – Let Mother Nature do her part to keep your home warm. When the sun is shining, open up the curtains and heat your rooms naturally. Even when it is bitter cold outside, the sun’s rays can warm your home a few degrees.
  • Curtains – If you have rooms that don’t get sunshine during the day, close the curtains. Curtains serve as a blanket for your windows, keeping the cold temperatures out. In addition, close your drapes in the evening when your home loses heat.   
  • Watch your fire – Unless a fireplace is tied into your heating system as in the case of a water heated home, it can actually make your home colder. A fireplace that is too close to the thermostat can turn the heat off, making other areas of the home very cold. In addition, be sure your fireplace has doors to keep some of the warm air from escaping up the chimney. Finally, when the fireplace is not in use, be sure the flue is closed.
  • Reveres fans – Most ceiling fans are designed to go in two directions. On direction sucks warm air off the floor, cooling the house, while the other pushes warm air off the ceiling and back down to the floor. Be sure your ceiling fan is operating in a clockwise direction to move as much warm air as possible back to your living areas.
  • Clear the vents – If you have furniture near heating vents, move them away so the air is able to circulate freely.
Not sure if your furnace is ready? Contact Wheeler Heating and Air Conditioning before old man winter comes to visit.