Get Fired Up About Savings With These Fall and Winter Heating Tips

Home Heating and Cooling

General Tips

  • Have your furnace and ductwork inspected annually. Loose, broken AC ductwork accounts for 15-35% of a home’s energy loss.
  • Change furnace filters every month.
  • Caulk, seal and weatherstrip openings from your home to the outside.
    Increase your attic insulation if the joists are showing. Recommended level: R-38 or 10-16 inches blown.
  • Repair and weatherstrip air leaks in the home. About 10-25% of energy used to cool homes escapes through air leaks.
  • Unless it is equipped specifically for home heating, use your fireplace sparingly. Warm air escapes through the chimney. Close the damper when you’re not using your fireplace.
  • Install a humidifier and set it at 35% to 40% humidity in the winter. This will help your home feel warmer at a lower temperature setting.
  • Keep your heat pump clear of obstructions, including snow.
  • Check throughout your home to make sure air registers aren’t blocked by furniture or other obstructions.
  • Vacuum or dust air registers regularly.

Thermostat

  • Install a programmable thermostat. Customers with heat pumps should use programmable thermostats or gradually change their settings to avoid putting the heat pump into costly emergency heating mode.
  • If you use a programmable thermostat, lower the thermostat during the day when no one is home, and set it even lower overnight while you are sleeping.

Windows and Vents

  • Shade your windows. Possible savings: 10-25%.
  • Open draperies and shades on south-facing windows to allow more sunlight and heat during the day. Close them at night to conserve heat.
  • Move furnishings away from floor or return air vents.
  • Use bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans sparingly. They can quickly pull warm air from your home.

Behaviors

  • Encourage members of your household to layer clothing rather than turn up the heat.
  • Take shorter showers. Open bathroom doors after taking a shower to allow warm, moist air to circulate.

Get started by understanding how your home uses energy. Explore PSO’s Energy Insights tool to track your usage, set goals to reduce monthly bills and find rebates to help you save even more.