Increasing Your Home’s Energy Efficiency During Colder Weather

While the smell of apple cinnamon and pumpkin spice bring welcoming memories of fall, they also announce the arrival of fewer daylight hours and colder temperatures. Longer nights and freezing temperatures increase your reliance on energy usage. Unless your home was newly built or you’ve performed an energy audit recently, then there are probably some areas that could be improved.

In today’s article, we’re going to cover some best practices to help you ensure your home is prepared for the colder months ahead.

Check Your Insulation

Depending on the age of your home, your insulation may need to be replaced or supplemented. Most insulation has a recommended life span of 20 years; however, dirt, heat variations, pests, and compression can reduce its effectiveness. Many homes built before the 1990s had little to no insulation. To ensure your home is well insulated, you may want to contact a professional to assess the effectiveness of your existing insulation.

Before calling a professional, you can do a few things to determine if your insulation is properly keeping your house temperature regulated or if it is failing. Here are some telltale signs that your insulation may be failing, or at the very least that it is time to inspect your insulation to see if it needs to be replaced.

• Unexpectedly high energy bills, or steadily climbing heating bills in the colder months. If you see your energy bills climbing year over year, then you may need to replace your insulation.
• Do you have rooms that seem to stay warmer or colder through the winter? If so, then you may have bad insulation in that room. 
• Does your home feel drafty year round? 
• Have you had a recent spate of pests like mice or other rodents? They may have damaged the insulation on the way in.
• Is the current insulation 15 to 20 years old? Most insulations begin to fail around that time period. If you have reason to believe that your home’s insulation is about that age, then it is probably starting to fail or will fail soon. 

If you have noticed all or some of these things happening with your home, then it may be time to inspect your insulation manually. Here are some tips for doing that.

• Go to a room that seems to be the coldest in the fall/winter. Carefully remove a light switch panel or electrical outlet panel from the wall. Make sure to cut power from that room at the breaker first. Grab a flashlight and a screwdriver and investigate around the insides of the wall. What does the insulation look like? Is it discolored or wet looking? Is it molding or showing signs of deterioration? Is your insulation falling down or becoming detached from the wall? If you see those things, then you may have an issue and it’s time to call in a pro.
• Go to your attic. There should typically be some exposed insulation infrastructure up there. Look for the same signs as in the above bullet point. If you notice any of those things or other signs that your insulation may be failing, then it is probably time to get your insulation redone by a pro.

Check Windows and Doors

When were your windows and doors installed? If you’re not sure, it may be time to consider replacements. On average, a home loses 25% to 30% of its energy through its windows. If your windows are between 20 and 40 years old, you may want to consider replacing them as they have exceeded their life expectancies.

You can maximize your existing windows by doing the following:

• Use weather strips or caulk to eliminate air leaks around windows.
• Add insulating window coverings.
• Consider using storm windows.

If your windows and doors need replacing, look for products with Energy Star or National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) labels. These designations indicate their energy-saving effectiveness.

Check Your Heating and Cooling System

Make sure your HVAC system is ready for cooler temperatures. If your furnace receives regular maintenance, make sure a pre-winter check-up is a part of the plan. Routine maintenance ensures your heating system is operating efficiently and safely before winter sets in.

During a winter check-up, a professional should do the following:

• Test the thermostat
• Inspect fan belt
• Check electronic ignition or pilot system
• Clean burners and burner assembly
• Replace filters
• Check gas pressure
• Check voltage and electrical connections
• Check fuel lines and gas valves
• Check exhaust system
• Check for carbon monoxide
• Check the heat exchanger for damage

To ensure your home is ready for cold weather, schedule a professional check-up well before winter sets in.

Check Appliances

People spend more time indoors when the sun sets early, and the temperatures drop. For some, that means more appliance use. Cooktops and ovens are used for warm meals and holiday cooking. Dishwashers are used more. Humidifiers may run longer, and laundry increases. If your appliances are old, they may use more energy than necessary.

Consider replacing old appliances with energy-star-rated ones that minimize energy use. Energy-efficient appliances can save homeowners up to $450 per year. In 2020, the Energy Star program reduced the US greenhouse gas emissions by 5%!

Check Your Roof

Attic insulation can help reduce energy loss; however, leaky roofs can lessen its effectiveness. Check your roof for possible leaks and loose shingles. If your roof needs repair, contact a roofing professional to address the problems before winter arrives. No one wants to repair a roof in freezing weather or discover water damage during a spring thaw.

Check Your Fireplace

Fireplaces can make winter nights enjoyable; however, close the damper when the fireplace is not in use. If left open, warm air escapes through the chimney and your furnace has to work harder to warm your home.

Also check your fireplace for:

• Water leakage or signs of moisture
• Signs of a bird or rodent infestation. Look for nests, droppings, displaced rocks or sticks etc.
• Buildup of creosote which can cause a fire hazard. Clean out your fireplace buildup with a quality product like Saver Systems Anti-Creo-Soot Remover
• Signs of brick loss or movement

Chimneys should be checked for damage and cleaned to protect against fire. Routine maintenance is not only crucial for efficient operation. It is essential for safe operation.

Conserve Energy

Homeowners can reduce energy consumption by lowering their thermostats and using LED lighting.

Temperature

Regulating your home’s temperature is the best way to save money. Multiple sources recommend setting your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter. They also recommend lowering the temperature seven to ten degrees while sleeping or away from home. By lowering the temperature, homeowners can save as much as 10% on heating costs per year.

Automatic thermostats make it easy to control temperatures. Homeowners can schedule when to adjust the temperature, so it is performed automatically. Lower temperatures lessen the wear and tear on your HVAC system. While many people want to complain about the lower temperatures, layering clothes and using blankets to stay warm is a quick and simple fix.

Lighting

Lighting is another way to reduce energy consumption. With longer nights, people require more artificial light. LED lights require 75% less energy than traditional light bulbs and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. They are excellent choices for task focused and recessed lighting applications. When looking at holiday lighting options, consider using LED lights as well. 

LED holiday lights not only use less energy, but they also:

• Last longer. The average string of LED lights lasts more than 40 holiday seasons.
• Are stronger. LED lights are made with epoxy, reducing injuries caused by broken glass.
• Are safer. LEDs produce less heat, minimizing their fire potential.

For The Road

We know this time of year is busy both at work and at home, but if you are able to start early you can really help to increase your home’s energy efficiency, HVAC performance, and save money on your energy bills. Using this article, you can perform your own “energy audit” this fall to help you along the path of better energy efficiency in your home. We hope this guide has been useful to you and we look forward to hearing about your own energy saving tips that you have used. We hope that your fall is stress free and fun and don’t forget to take some time out of your busy schedule to treat yourself to a hot beverage of choice!