As cold air settles in outside, it’s vitally important to keep your house as warm and safe as possible. Winter weather can be brutal in Illinois, especially in the northern part of the state. There are a number of tips and tricks for homeowners to be aware of to save on those winter heating bills. Consider these do’s and dont’s of keeping your house warm and safe during the winter months:
- Seal up any cracks along doors and windows.
- Look for areas where drafts or cold air is coming in and replace any worn weatherstripping.
- Draft guards and towels help at bottoms of doors and on windowsills.
- Rugs on wood and tile floors can also aid in keeping cold air out and warm air in.
- Open curtains during the day to let sunlight in, close them at night to hold heat in.
- Uncover blocked vents and ensure maximum air flow is observed for floor vents.
- Switch ceiling fans to clockwise mode to help push heat downward.
- Close garage door.
- Keep heat set at minimum of 64 degrees.
- Close fireplace flue.
- Plug space heaters directly into wall and not an extension cord.
- Have heating unit and/or chimney cleaned and inspected annually by a professional.
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor.
- Be prepared in case of power outage or fire. Have a plan.
- Replace HVAC filters monthly.
- Have a working fire extinguisher on hand.
- Use thermal curtains for doors and windows.
- Close internal doors where possible.
- Install programmable thermostat.
- Adjust water heater to lower temperature.
- Lower thermostat during day and overnight.
Dont’s:
- Don’t use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
- Don’t use a generator inside your home.
- Don’t use your fireplace without having it recently cleaned and inspected.
- Don’t leave space heater on overnight or in unattended room.
- Don’t constantly change thermostat.
- Don’t plug everything into one power strip.
- Don’t DIY repairs unless you are a professional.
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