Winter Energy Saving Tips for Arlington Homeowners

As the temperatures drop here in Arlington, keeping our homes warm without spending a fortune on energy bills is on everyone's mind. We've been looking into ways to make our homes more energy efficient heating, and it turns out there are some simple steps we can take. This guide is all about helping us save money and stay comfortable this winter.

Key Takeaways

• We can improve our home's energy efficient heating by checking for and sealing drafts around windows and doors. This stops warm air from escaping and cold air from coming in.

• Adding or improving insulation in our attics and walls makes a big difference in keeping our homes warm. It's like putting a cozy blanket on our house.

• We should also make sure our heating system is running well by getting it checked regularly and setting our thermostats smartly. This helps us use less energy and saves us money.

Maximize Your Home's Energy Efficient Heating

When winter rolls around here in Arlington, keeping our homes warm without breaking the bank is a big deal. We've found that focusing on how our homes retain heat is just as important as the heating system itself. Making sure your house is sealed up tight and well-insulated can make a surprising difference in your energy bills and overall comfort. Let's look at a couple of key areas where we can make some real improvements.

Seal Air Leaks Around Windows and Doors

Drafts are the enemy of a warm home. You know that chilly feeling when you walk past a window or door and feel a cold breeze? That's wasted heat escaping. We can tackle this by doing a simple check around all the openings in our homes. Look for gaps where air might be getting in or out. This often happens around window frames, door frames, electrical outlets on exterior walls, and where pipes or vents enter the house.

Here are some common spots to check:

• Around the edges of window frames and door frames.

• Where the foundation meets the walls (this is called the sill plate).

• Anywhere a pipe or wire goes through an exterior wall.

• Attic hatches or pull-down stairs.

• Around chimneys and fireplace dampers.

A good way to find leaks is to do a simple 'smoke test' on a windy day. Light an incense stick or a punk and carefully move it around potential leak areas. If the smoke wavers or gets pulled in a certain direction, you've found a draft. For smaller gaps, caulk is your best friend. For larger ones, like those around door frames, weatherstripping can work wonders. It's a bit of a chore, but sealing these leaks means your heating system doesn't have to work as hard to keep the inside temperature steady.

Upgrade Insulation for Optimal Performance

Insulation is like a blanket for your house. It keeps the warm air in during the winter and the cool air in during the summer. If your home's insulation is old or not thick enough, heat can escape through the walls, attic, and even the floors. This is especially true for older homes here in Arlington.

We should think about where insulation is most important:

1. Attic: This is usually the most cost-effective place to add insulation. Heat rises, so a lot of your warm air will try to escape through the attic if it's not properly insulated.

2. Walls: Insulating walls can be more involved, especially in existing homes, but it makes a big difference.

3. Basement/Crawl Space: Don't forget about the areas below your main living space. Insulating these can stop cold air from coming up through the floors.

The amount of insulation needed is measured by its R-value. Higher R-values mean better insulation. Different parts of your home need different R-values, and local building codes or energy efficiency guidelines can give you a good idea of what's recommended for our area. Checking your current insulation levels and considering an upgrade can lead to significant savings on your heating bills over time.

Smart Strategies for Efficient Heating

When it comes to keeping our homes warm without breaking the bank, we've found that a few smart strategies make a big difference. It's not just about turning up the thermostat; it's about being more thoughtful with how we use our heating systems.

Optimize Your Thermostat Settings

Adjusting your thermostat is probably the easiest way to save energy. We've learned that setting it a few degrees lower when we're asleep or away can lead to noticeable savings. Programmable or smart thermostats are fantastic for this, as they can automatically adjust the temperature based on your schedule. For instance, you might set it to 68°F (20°C) when you're home and awake, then drop it to 62°F (17°C) overnight or when the house is empty. It takes a little getting used to, but the comfort difference is minimal, and the energy savings add up.

Here’s a simple guideline we follow:

• When you're home and awake: Set to a comfortable temperature, typically between 68-70°F (20-21°C).

• When you're sleeping: Lower the temperature by 7-10°F (4-6°C).

• When you're away from home: Lower the temperature by 10-15°F (6-8°C) or more.

Maintain Your Heating System Regularly

Just like any machine, your heating system needs regular check-ups to run efficiently. Neglecting it can lead to higher energy bills and, worse, unexpected breakdowns during the coldest months. We make it a point to schedule a professional tune-up for our furnace or boiler every fall, before the heavy heating season begins.

This maintenance usually includes:

• Cleaning and inspecting the burner assembly.

• Checking the heat exchanger for cracks.

• Lubricating moving parts.

• Testing the thermostat and electrical connections.

• Inspecting and cleaning air filters (or replacing them if they're disposable).

Don't forget to change or clean your air filters regularly yourself, too. A clogged filter makes your system work harder, using more energy and potentially reducing airflow. We aim to check ours monthly and replace them as needed, which usually ends up being every 1-3 months depending on the type and household conditions.

Keeping your heating system in good shape isn't just about saving money; it's also about safety and reliability. A well-maintained system is less likely to fail when you need it most and can operate more cleanly and efficiently, contributing to better indoor air quality.

Wrapping Up Our Winter Energy Savings

We've covered quite a bit on how to keep our homes warm and our energy bills down this winter here in Arlington. It might seem like a lot, but even small changes can make a real difference. Think about sealing up those drafts or maybe adjusting your thermostat a degree or two. We hope these tips give you a good starting point. Staying comfortable and saving money is a win-win, and we're all in this together as neighbors. Let's make this a cozy and cost-effective winter for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the easiest way to stop warm air from escaping our house?

We can easily check for drafts around our windows and doors. Using caulk or weatherstripping can seal up these little gaps. It's like putting a cozy blanket around your house to keep the heat inside where we want it.

How often should we have our heating system checked?

It's a good idea to have our heating system looked at by a professional at least once a year, usually before the cold weather really sets in. This helps make sure it's running smoothly and efficiently, saving us money and keeping us warm.

Does changing our thermostat settings really make a difference?

Absolutely! When we're not home or when we're sleeping, we can turn our thermostat down a few degrees. This simple change can lead to significant savings on our heating bills over the winter. We can also use programmable thermostats to do this automatically.