“Baby, it’s cold outside.” Yes, it was snowing last night on my way home. Winter officially arrives on December 22nd this year; however if you ask me, it is here. Actually, I love snow; it is the cold temperatures that I dislike. Cold temperatures are why I put great effort into keeping my house warm in the winter. I thought I would pass on some information and tips so you can keep your home warm and cozy this winter.

 

Programmable thermostats can save you as much as 15% per year on your heating and cooling bill. You can do this by having it set to turn down the temperature by 5 degrees at night and during anytime that no one will be home for a few hours. We have ours set to turn down at bedtime and then it turns up about 30 minutes before our alarm goes off so we can wake up to a warm house. It then turns back down after we have all left for work and school and back up before we get home. On days that I work from home the program is easy to override so that I can stay warm during the day. Of course in the summer you will want it to set the temperature higher for when you are away. Prices for programmable thermostats can range from $30 to $300 depending on what features you want in one

 

My bedroom and the playroom are on the outer corners of the house and upstairs so they are always cold in the winter. I have always covered the playroom window with a kit to help keep that room warm. Last year was the first time I used a kit in our bedroom. I have double window and then a small single window in the bathroom. I could not believe the difference it made in our room.  We have top quality double pane windows and our house is less than 10 years old, so I did not think I was losing that much heat through my windows. I was wrong.  According to 3M window insulator kits can save up to $18 per window this heating season. Their values are based on averages from the northern half of the United States. Actual energy savings are subject to change and will vary depending on furnace and window type, average indoor/outdoor temperature, length of heating season and other factors. Savings based on energy costs as of August 2011. They estimate a home with 10 windows in Green Bay, WI, could have an average annual savings of $270 by using window insulator kits. These kits are easy to use and not that expensive. The key to success is to make sure the areas that you will tape are free of dust, clean and dry.

 

The humidity level in a house plays a large part in how comfortable the temperature feels. Dry air feels colder than moist air. If you have static electricity in your house or everyone feels like their throats and/or nasal passages are dry then you need to add some moisture. You can do this by adding some plants to your home or you can keep a few shallow bowls of water sitting around the house in areas where the air circulates freely. You can also install a humidifier to your forced air heating system. A free standing humidifier will work better if you place it near the air intake for your furnace. However it is also important not to over humidify. Too much humidity can cause problems with condensation on your windows and it can also increase the chances for mold growth which is bad for allergies. Mold loves warm, moist and dark areas.

 

During the winter, your ceiling fan should rotate counter-clockwise at the lowest speed. This brings the warm air down from the ceiling to make the room feel warmer. During the summer, flip the switch to make the fan rotate clockwise. Hot air rises so a ceiling fan, on low, in a room with a high ceiling will push the warm air down to where you want it. The ceiling fan will make the room feel several degrees warmer with creating a cold draft.
Remove window screens and keep windows sparkling clean in the winter. This will bring in more sunlight and solar heat to the house.
Clean or replace the filter in your forced-air furnace once a month during the heating season. A dirty filter makes the furnace work harder.
Keep draperies and shades open during sunny days to help warm the house. Close them at night to keep the cold out.
Look for cracks both inside and out that let cold air into the house.  Likely places are around windows, door frames, air conditioning units, vents and any place that pipes enter the house. Use caulk to fill the cracks and holes. This can reduce your heating costs by 10% each year. Storm doors and windows can reduce your heating costs as much as 15% annually.
You should seal your electrical outlets on exterior-facing walls with inexpensive foam outlet gaskets. You can find these at any hardware store and it is an easy project that anyone can do and it will save you money.