improving your attic ventilation

Posted on: 13 September 2022

Holiday jingles are playing in the store again, and the nights are getting cooler. As temperatures drop outside, energy bills tend to soar. You can crank up the heat this winter and still save money. Here's how. 

1. Air Ducts

Make sure your heating system is clean and prepared to work effectively this winter. Schedule an annual heating system check-up now before it gets too cold. 

A check-up can identify issues before they become serious, sparing you the discomfort and cost of a breakdown in a cold snap. Regular maintenance can lengthen the life of your system and reduce your winter power bills. A well-functioning furnace uses less energy to heat your home.

Ducts are designed to move air, but over time they can become clogged with dirt, dust, and other allergens. This can lead to poor airflow and poor air quality. 

Air duct cleaning can help clean out these clogs so that the air moves more efficiently. Make sure to regularly replace the air filters in your HVAC system to avoid excess dust accumulation.

2. Air Vents

If furniture or draperies are blocking the heating vents, your furnace is working harder than it should. Your ductwork may develop fractures and leaks as a result of the increased air pressure caused by blocked vents. 

Clean your vents to make sure that your system is operating as it should and that air is flowing freely through each room of your house. If the furniture is blocking a vent, you can use a vent extender to improve airflow.

3. Lights

Use a timer to turn off your Christmas lights. Leaving your holiday lights on all night raises your energy bill. Avoid trekking outside in the cold to turn them off. 

Instead, you can program your holiday lights to turn on and off automatically. Just connect them with smart plugs, which will help you cut down on energy consumption throughout the winter holidays.

You can also automate indoor lighting to make sure basement lights and rooms where no one is using them automatically turn off after a few minutes. 

4. Thermostat

A programmable thermostat gives you the flexibility to adjust and optimize your furnace automatically. You can set it to a lower temperature while you sleep or are away, and a higher temperature shortly before you go home at the end of the day. 

5. Plumbing

Uninsulated pipes that feed hot water to sinks, showers, and appliances may waste energy. If you have to leave the water running for a long time for it to get hot, consider insulating your pipes. 

Insulated pipes not only provide hotter water but also reduce the amount of time you have to wait for hot water to run before taking a shower.