Boost Your Home's Energy Efficiency in Winter Months

An energy efficient home saves you money on heating and cooling usage through the seasons. A few simple maintenance items can keep your home from wasting energy and help you boost your utility savings. 

1. Change the filters in your HVAC unit. When your filters are dirty, air flow is reduced and your heat and air unit has to work harder. Switching out your filter can prolong the life and efficiency of your system. 

2. Check your caulking and weather stripping. Weather stripping will occasionally require adjustments to maintain a good seal. This can easily be done by firmly running the backside of a screwdriver up and down the groove in the weather stripping. Weather and time can shrink caulking around doors and windows and increase air infiltration. Periodically repair caulking as needed. 

3. Reverse your ceiling fans. Warmer air in your home naturally stays near the ceiling. Reversing the direction of your fan blades to turn clockwise in the winter will force this warm air closer to the ground where you and your family need it the most. This can help you to keep your thermostat set at a lower temperature. These tips will keep you warm and leave you a little extra money in the budget at the end of the month.