Crowley Construction Tips: 4 Ways to Reduce Your Heating Bill this Winter

Posted by tess on Nov 29, 2011 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

The blustery cold days of Winter are finally upon us, and with that comes the worry on many homeowners’ minds of what this season will bring in terms of heating bills. Keeping a home toasty warm is getting more expensive as fuel and wood costs continue to stay at high rates in many areas of New England. However, before you go taking a second job to keep your family toasty warm this Winter, consider that there are small changes you can make in your home that will have a big impact on your heating bills.

Here are four tips for reducing your heating bills this Winter, from Crowley Construction.

Watch the Thermostat – The most obvious, yet forgotten, step in trying to control heating bills is to set a home thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or less. For every degree you turn the thermostat down, you can shave approximately 3% of your heating bill every month, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Consider alternative methods of heat, such as solar, wood, coal or electric, for times when the entire house doesn’t need to be heated.

Repair Leaks and Gaps –  A major culprit in heating loss in many homes is the occurrence of air leaks and gaps in windows, walls, floors and doors. Take the time to notice where the coldest areas of your home are, then call on Crowley Construction to make the needed repairs. These leaks can be costing you hundreds every year in lost heat and air conditioning, so it’s worth the investment.

Upgrade Insulation – If you’ve just purchased a new home, or have lived in the same residence for a while, you may have noticed a marked increase in your heating bill over the last couple of seasons. This is a good time to replace that old insulation in your ceilings and attics, to vastly improve the heat retention of your home. Get an experienced home remodeling contractor in VT to handle the job correctly.

Clean Heating System – Your home heating system has a tendency to build up dirt, grime and dust over the years in ducts, wires and internal parts. If you have pets, then this is even worse, as pet hair and dander can clog heating systems over time. If you’ve noticed that you are continually dusting your home, then it may be time to have a VT home repair company take a look at cleaning your heating system. This will help it last longer and run more efficiently, using less fuel and electricity.

For more information on keeping your heating costs low this Winter, be sure to review our helpful articles here, and contact a friendly home renovation agent at Crowley Construction today.

The construction professionals at Crowley Construction can handle your Vermont home improvement project big or small.  If you’d like to have a private consultation, call 802-893-2603 or email gary@crowleyconstructionvt.com.  For more great home improvement tips, connect with us on Facebook.

Photo Credit: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net