As the leaves start to turn and pumpkins begin their annual takeover, many people are beginning to look forward to the “most wonderful time of the year”: winter. That’s right, the cold weather is coming and there’s nothing we can do about it. And while huddling in your home until spring sounds like a great option, a lot of energy goes into heating a home. That means higher energy bills. With meteorologists already proclaiming that this will be an intense winter, it’s time to start thinking about how you can keep warm with a lower energy bill.

Staying Warm With a Lower Energy Bill

Keeping warm through the winter can be done, but often comes with a price tag. If you’re not ready to spend your life savings on heating your home, try some of these tips to prepare your home for winter:

• Dress for the occasion: The moment you come home, take a nice hot shower to warm up. And when you’re done, make sure to put on some cozy socks and a sweater, or a nice bathrobe. The right clothes will be sure to keep you comfortable and ready to face the winter chill.
• Throw down a rug: Did you know that your floor is one of the biggest areas of heat loss in your home? Don’t let your floors sap your heat – place a rug on the floor. It will reduce the amount of heat lost through hardwood or tile floors, and your feet won’t freeze in the morning!
• Add curtains (and use your windows to your advantage): Windows are another big area of heat loss in a home. Insulated curtains can help to prevent that heat from escaping. They can also help darken a room (which will help you sleep) and reduce noise from outside! During the day, be sure to open curtains and blinds on south-facing windows. Letting the sun shine in is a good way to warm up a room. But be sure to close the curtains again when it gets dark!
• Use (or upgrade) your thermostat: Be honest, do you keep your thermostat at one temperature all day long? If you are, you’re spending a lot of money on heating a home when no one is there! The Department of Energy recommends keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees, and lowering it 10 to 15 degrees when you are gone or sleeping. So before you leave the house or tuck yourself in, lower the temperature. Bring it back up when you get home or wake up. It might not feel like a big change, but you’ll be saving a lot of money (and energy) when you’re not heating your home all day every day. Are you worried you won’t remember to set the thermostat? Consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat. Although this is more expensive than using your existing one, you can preprogram when you want the temperature to go up and down, meaning you’ll save energy without even having to think about it. The best part? Mass Save has rebates that can help cover the cost of a new thermostat.
• Rearrange your furniture: It’s time for some redecorating! Make sure all furniture and draperies are moved away from vents or radiators. Warm air will flow much more freely, meaning your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard.

The Big Fix

These are all easy fixes that will allow you to save some money on your energy bill, but what if that isn’t enough? Get ready for our biggest winter savings tip yet: home air sealing.

Part of the reason your home gets cold in the winter is because of small leaks in your home. The air you spend so much money heating up goes right outside through these leaks, meaning you’ll have to use more energy to keep your home at the right temperature. Leaks can be fixed, but you have to know where they are first.

When you get a no-cost home energy assessment, an energy technician will come to your home and look for areas of energy loss, including air leaks. Not only will they find the problems in your home, but they can help you to fix them. So say goodbye to Old Man Winter, and banish the cold air from your home for good. Schedule your home energy assessment with Wattson Home Solutions now!