Peter’s Services
October 12, 2020
Halloween Lighting Craft
October 27, 2020
Nobody likes high energy bills in the winter but if your home is drafty and your furnace is working overtime, you will be paying more. There are some pretty simple things you can do yourself in order to make sure your home is ready and energy efficient for winter.
1.) Check doors and windows for drafts. Drafty doors and windows waste heat. Wasted heat obviously means higher monthly energy bills. According to a report by Move.org, Massachusetts has some of the highest energy bills in the nation. This means that anything you can do to retain the heat in your home during the winter without raising your bill, is essential. Weather stripping is relatively inexpensive and is obtainable in many shapes and sizes at your local hardware store. Many of these products have a pre-glued backing so all you have to do is peel off the protective paper to reveal the glue, and put it in place. If you are someone who would benefit from video instruction, then you may find YouTube to be a useful resource and there are likely many videos on the subject there.
2.) Change your thermostat. If you bought your home in 1953 and your furnace or thermostat hasn’t been updated since then, it might be time to invest in something newer. If your furnace is working fine, then just consider updating your thermostat. There are many efficient and inexpensive options on the market. NEST Learning Thermostat is a good option for maximum efficiency at a good price point. If you’re not the sort to do it yourself, Peter Needham is a NEST Certified Technician and can install it for you. NEST learns your habits and adjusts itself accordingly. There’s a little more to it initially but it is pretty simple. NEST can help you to reduce your heating bills by adjusting your thermostat when you don’t need as much heat.
3.) Insulated curtains are also a great way to reduce heat loss during the winter and keep your house cooler in the summer. Insulated curtains are not expensive and hanging them is something you can do yourself. Additionally, there are many attractive choices available at different stores so you should be able to find something that fits your décor nicely.
These are just three simple things you can do to help your home stay more energy efficient this winter. And, as always, Peter is available to do any HVAC or electrical fixes or upgrades for your home or business.
