When the weather in Pittsburgh turns cold, make sure you’re heating your home efficiently!
We may be enjoying a rare January warm spell across Pennsylvania right now, but it won’t last for long. Soon the temperatures will dip again, and we’ll huddle inside to keep away the winter chill.
Cold weather means higher heating bills. Whether you have electric or gas heating, the cold weather months mean bigger invoices for your utility providers.
Lower Your Heating Bill and Conserve Energy
To help, we’ve compiled seven ways to lower your heating bill without breaking the bank. Here’s how you can conserve energy in the winter:
1. Dress warm! The thick sweater grandma gave you over the holidays can help you keep your hands off the thermostat dial.
2. Clean your vents. Dust inside your vents can block the heat from traveling around your home. Consult our Pittsburgh neighborhood reports for help finding an HVAC specialist near you!
3. Use your ceiling fans. It may sound counter-intuitive to use your ceiling fans in the winter, but they can push the warm back down toward the ground instead of letting it rise up and out of your home.
4. Address your windows. Windows can cause incredible heat loss, but you can fight back:
Replace single-pane windows with double-pane windows. We’ll admit this one is more labor-intensive than the rest of our tips, but it offers a powerful outcome. Double-pane windows offer an extra layer of insulation against the cold outside, helping you conserve energy against the Pittsburgh chill.
Use plastic film over your windows. Though thin, a plastic coating can help you block the cold.
Use heavy curtains. Heavy curtains will block drafts and cold air in general, giving your heater a hand. If you don’t have curtains, consider hanging blankets in front of the windows. This is a great tactic to use at night because the blankets offer extra insulation and help to block drafts.
Pull in sunlight from the south. In Pittsburgh’s northern climate, most of a home’s direct sunlight (on those winter days when it’s not overcast!) comes from the south. Keep those blinds and curtains open during the day to let the sunlight in, but be sure to close them again at night after sunset.
5. Seal your chimney flue when it’s not in use. Keeping it open is like opening a window.
6. Look for leaks. Annoying leaks can cause up to 12% of your heat loss! Finding and fixing them can translate into significant savings on your heating bill. Places to look:
Doors
Windows
Pipes (especially leading into the basement)
Outlets (outside)
Dryer vent
Once you’ve found the source of your leaks, there are many ways to fix them. Consider using:
Weatherstripping
Caulk
Foam
Door sweep (for doors)
7. Mind your attic. Many Pittsburgh homes have semi-finished attics that are comfortable enough to use as an extra room, but they lack sufficient insulation to trap heat. Insulation in the attic is critical to keep the heat from escaping, especially since heat rises.
Some cost-effective strategies you can use in your attic:
Seal around the attic door so no air can slip through.
Check your attic windows using our recommendations above.
Consider using additional carpets and throw rugs on your attic floor to trap more of the heat from below.
By following these recommendations, you can conserve energy throughout the coldest winter months without spending a fortune on renovations or installing new insulation throughout the house. For more guidance on home improvements, or to discuss your options around a new home, email us at theblocks@blocksintheburgh.com.