Many homeowners face high utility bills for heating costs during winter. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can complete to make your home more efficient and help it retain heat. Reduce your heating bills by following some or all of the tips below.

Seal Drafty Areas of the Home to Reduce Your Heating Bills

When cold drafts blow in through gaps around the doors and windows, the HVAC system or furnace needs to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Also, the warm air inside your home will leak out through these cracks.

Seal around doors and windows with weatherstripping and use caulk to fill tiny cracks around window panes. An airtight home will stay warmer and use less energy.

Add Insulation to the Attic

Attic insulation is key to maintaining a comfortable temperature inside. Heat rises, so if the insulation in the attic isn’t adequate, the warm air in your home will rise up through the attic and out the roof.

Find out what R-value your insulation should be for your climate and make sure that your attic is well-insulated. If it isn’t, wear protective gear to add more insulation or hire a professional to do this for you.

Take Care of Your Furnace

Your furnace will run more efficiently and last longer if you have it serviced once a year and maintain it regularly. Changing the air filters as recommended (usually every 30-90 days) is one of the simplest but most important maintenance tasks for your HVAC system. A technician will clean and inspect the furnace when servicing and identify any needed repairs.

Reduce Your Heating Bills with Radiant Heat From the Sun

If you have a sunny property, use this to your advantage to help heat your home. Simply open up the drapes or blinds during the day and let the sunshine through the windows. This will raise your indoor temperatures a few degrees, so your furnace doesn’t have to.

When the temperatures start dropping, take a look around your home and address any problem areas. Perhaps your doors aren’t airtight or the insulation in the attic has thinned out over the years. You’ll lower your heating bill and stay more comfortable by completing the above tasks.

Realistic Home Inspection Services offers home inspections to the greater Milwaukee area. Contact us to schedule our services.