7 Easy Energy-Saving Tips for Winter

Out with the cold! Go green and keep the drafts out and the warm air inside your home with these simple energy-saving solutions.

As fun as the holiday season is, it also brings with it unwelcomed guests — and we aren’t talking about your in-laws. For many of us, winter means drafty windows, drastically fluctuating indoor temperatures and high heating bills.

To help save money and stay warm, we’ve compiled some easy energy-saving tips to make this winter cozier for your family and guests alike.

1. Cover Drafty Windows

Using a heavy-duty plastic sheet or frame to cover the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months can help keep out drafts, the U.S. Department of Energy suggests. Heavy curtains or window treatments can also help prevent the cold winds from sneaking into your home.

In addition to these temporary fixes, consider replacing old, inefficient windows with new energy-efficient ones from Sears. Energy-efficient windows can dramatically reduce heat loss, improve comfort, and lower heating costs over the long term. These windows are designed to keep the warmth in and the cold out, offering a more permanent solution to drafty windows. With a variety of styles and materials available, you can enhance both the appearance and the energy efficiency of your home.

2. Find Leaks and Seal

Add caulk or weather stripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows, which can prevent your energy bill from creeping up too high. Also take the time to investigate and seal air leaks in the gaps around your plumbing, chimneys and recessed lighting as well as behind cupboards and closets in unfinished spaces.

• Use Caulk and Weather Stripping: Apply these materials to seal drafts around doors and windows effectively.
• Investigate Common Leak Areas: Pay special attention to plumbing, chimneys, and recessed lighting where air leaks often occur.
• Check Unfinished Spaces: Look behind cupboards and closets in areas like basements or attics for hidden leaks.
• Seal Gaps Thoroughly: Ensure all identified leaks are sealed properly to maximize energy savings and comfort.

3. Adjust the Temperature

Another great winter energy conservation tip is to set your thermostat to the lowest setting that’s comfortable while you’re home and awake, the Department of Energy advises. The agency reports that you can save roughly 10% annually on heating and cooling bills by lowering the thermostat temp 10° to 15° for eight hours while you’re sleeping or at work.

You could also install a programmable thermostat to set the temperature automatically.

“Many people are migrating over to a programmable thermostat, which allows the homeowner to create savings through optimum temperature adjustments,” says Allen Gast, director of product management for HVAC systems at Sears Home Improvement. “Our programmable thermostats also have a manual override feature that allows the consumer to have the best of both worlds.”

4. Prep Water Heaters and Pipes

Keep your water heater from having to work double time by insulating the pipes. It’s easy — just wrap them with an insulating blanket. This will keep heaters from having to work harder to provide your family with hot water on super-cold days.

• Insulate Water Heater Pipes: Use an insulating blanket or foam tubing to wrap around the pipes.
• Reduce Workload on Heater: Insulation helps maintain the water temperature, reducing the energy needed to heat water.
• Ensure All Accessible Pipes Are Covered: Focus on insulating pipes that are most exposed to cold temperatures to prevent heat loss.
• Check for Fit and Coverage: Make sure the insulation covers the pipes snugly without any gaps, especially at elbows and tees.

5. Perform a Pre-Season Inspection

All your systems should have a pre-season check performed by a licensed and insured HVAC contractor, Gast says. In fact, you should do this twice a year — before the hot and cold weather sets in.

Winter presents many options for heating sources, from heat pumps and furnaces to boilers. Because they all require different degrees of mechanical expertise, make sure to have a professional check them out on-site.

An HVAC inspection should include:

• Checking thermostat settings
• Tightening all gas and electric connections
• Lubricating all moving parts

Finally, make sure your heating system starts, operates and shuts off properly.

6. Keep Your Filters Clean

A dirty filter in your HVAC system can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

“Inspect, clean or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump,” Gast advises.

Homeowners should also make sure there’s no debris in or around the furnace and boiler.

7. Upgrade If Need Be

Changes in Window and HVAC technology move quickly. If the changes above aren’t getting you the results you hope for or if your HVAC system or windows are over 10 years old, replacing one (or both) of them with new, energy-efficient options from Sears Home Improvement can mean big utility savings all year long.