Let’s face it, nobody likes paying energy bills; especially during the wintertime in St. Louis. Luckily, there are several heating and non-heating-related things St. Louis homeowners can do to cut back on energy costs.
That’s why we wanted to provide some valuable tips on how to save energy at home. While there are several long-term changes you can make to your home to save energy, such as investing in a high-efficiency furnace, this post will focus on short-term and inexpensive tips.
Heating related tips for saving energy at home
- Seal air leaks. Air leaks can be found in places like windows, doors, electrical outlets, and ceiling fixtures. If you find an air leak, make sure to caulk, seal or weatherstrip it to keep warm air from escaping your home.
- Set your programmable thermostat. If you have a programmable thermostat, use our recommended settings to save money while staying comfortable.
- Clean and replace air filters. A dirty air filter restricts airflow and causes your furnace to work harder than it needs to. Check, clean, or replace your filters every month.
- Clear warm air register. Airflow issues can also be found from blocked air registers. Make sure all of yours are clear of furniture and other objects.
- Open drapes on south-facing windows. Use the natural warmth of the sun to help your furnace heat your home. During the winter, this is best done by opening the drapes on south-facing windows.
Non-heating related tips for saving energy at home
- Minimize use of exhaust fans. Twenty minutes is a sufficient time to keep exhaust fans running after showers or cooking. You can save energy by not using them any longer.
- Use energy-efficient light bulbs. Investing in CFL or LED bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs is an energy-saving tip that will pay itself off rather quickly.
- Scrape off large food pieces from dishes. When you’re using your dishwasher, you can skip the soaking or prewashing stages by simply scraping off large food pieces before you load them in.
- Don’t over-cool your refrigerator. The EPA suggests keeping your refrigerator at 37-40 degrees and your freezer at 0-5 degrees for maximum energy savings.
- Keep faucet lever in the cold position. Your faucet calls for hot water even if it’s not running when the lever is in the warm position. Keep your faucet handles in the cold position to avoid those extra water heating costs.
If you have any questions about how to save energy at home, or would like to know about your energy-saving options for your heating system, contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning, Electrical and Plumbing, your St. Louis heating and cooling company.