CHARLOTTE’S FINEST | WEATHERPROOFING
It finally feels like fall with the crisp coolness in the air today! So refreshing!
Even though we live in the south and winters are typically a little more mild, there are still some things you might want to do to get your home ready. If nothing else, these tips can be helpful in cutting your energy costs this winter!
1 | REGULATE YOUR TEMPERATURE
This is a great place to start as so many of us start to adjust our thermostats this time of year. We recommend you start by setting your A/C to be a few degrees warmer, so the A/C doesn't work so hard during the day. Your body will start to regulate which will help you as the weather cools. We also recommend that once we start to heat your home, you keep the thermostat a few degrees cooler in the evening when you are tucked under your covers. You would be surprised that if you do this simple step you can save as much as 10% during the year.
2 | INSULATE YOUR WATER HEATER
You can give your water heater a little assist by adding a blanket or padding around it during cooler months. A standard water heater usually losses between 25 and 45 percent of its heat and the blanket can help to eliminate some of that.
3 | RECYCLE HEATED AIR
One way to pull warm air down from the ceiling and back into a room is to reverse your ceiling fan. If you switch your ceiling fan to rotate clockwise, it will push the warmer air down and reheat the space below.
4 | FILL IN THE GAPS
There are little gaps throughout our house. Some hide in our exterior walls, windows sills, door frames and a variety of places. You can use an expanding foam to insulate these little spaces. It is a good idea to check or have someone check your weather striping on your windows. Another little fix that can sometimes really add up is to add foam insulation on your exterior electrical outlets.
5 | INSULATE ATTIC SPACES
Depending on the age of your home, it might be a good idea to add a layer of insulation to your attic and attic doors. You can easily find strips of insulation at your home goods store.
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