The cold season is upon us. And being that we want your home to be comfortable year round, we’re going to talk about ways you can prepare and winterize your home. New York and New Jersey winters can be rather harsh, so it’s important to prep your home and heating system for the coming months for optimal energy savings.
First and foremost, a professional should come in and assess your heating system. During such inspections, you can expect the technician to clean heat exchangers and burners, check for carbon monoxide leaks, replace worn parts (like belts or motors), and ensure that the gas and vent connections are safe. This is the first step, others home energy saving tips are to follow.
Ways to Optimize Heat Retention and Energy Savings
1. Address your Filters
It’s important to stay on top of filter changes, especially if your household is prone to allergies. Needless to say, the pollution surrounding NY and NJ is also a valid reason to change out filters more often. As you may already know, dirty filters make the system work harder, and it impacts your indoor air quality. If you want your system to work as efficiently as possible, be it the heating season or not, be sure your filters are up to par.
2. Properly Seal and Insulate
In the cold months, you probably want to keep your heat in. To do so, make sure there aren’t places for the heat to escape (hello window and door gaps). Take care of gaps by caulking, using weatherstripping, or foam insulation where applicable. Plus, check your insulation in places like attics, crawl spaces, or even basements. Leaky ductwork can be patched up with aluminum tape, and you can even add plastic film to your windows to reduce drafts.
3. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
If you read our blog about staying cool in the summer you may have noticed that we suggested you adjust your ceiling fan’s rotation for optimal cooling. Well, the same applies here. In the winter months, you should change the fan’s rotation (the switch is typically on the fan body) to run clockwise, as this will force the warm air down from the ceiling and into the living space.
4. Adjust Your Thermostat
Having a smart or programmable thermostat can make your life easier, especially in this instance. Just like in the summer months, by altering the day time and nite time temperature by a few degrees, you’re able to experience significant energy savings. You may be happy to know that the best daytime winter temperature is 68F. If you’re planning on being away, or during nite time, it’s recommended to lower the thermostat by 7-10F degrees. This optimizes energy usage and could save you up to 10% on your heating costs.
5. Keep Your Pipes from Freezing
Freezing temperatures can come with freezing pipes. It’s the downfall of winter. When temperatures hit under 20F, if any pipes are exposed (like say in your attic or basement), they can be prone to freezing. Aside from the usual of letting your faucets drip ever so slightly and keeping the under sink cabinet doors open, know that pipes can also be wrapped in foam or fiberglass insulation. Should you be taking a trip and plan on being away, be sure that your home temperature stays above 55F to keep pipes from bursting.
6. Use Textiles to Retain Heat
Again, doing the opposite of what we would recommend in the summer. Here, it’s appropriate to break out the thick curtains and fuzzy rugs. Thick textiles not only make your home feel cozier, but they’re also good at trapping in heat. If you have south facing windows, we would recommend you take advantage of the sunshine during the day to warm your home. At night, you should close the blinds to trap in that warmth and maximize energy savings.
NY and NJ Winter Energy Saving Solutions For the Win
It’s good to stay on top of things so you don’t find yourself bracing the winter months with no heat. Should you find that you want to make upgrades to get ready for the season, remember to take advantage of rebates and energy programs. If you upgrade to Energy Star certified equipment or decide to overhaul your insulation for the better, you can potentially claim some credits. We did a whole blog about this topic, which you can check out here. When you’re prepared, the cold isn’t a reason to fret. And should you be ready to service your HVAC, know that your friends at Green Ductors are just a call away, 888-334-1612
