Buying a home is one of the biggest investments most people will ever make, and taking care of that investment is important. The team at Singletary Construction can help with some expert advice.

Question: How can I reduce my heating costs during the cold, winter months?

Answer: A little bit goes a long way when it comes to increasing your comfort but decreasing your energy costs during the cold winter months.

  • Make sure windows and doors are properly sealed: Check weatherstripping and caulk around windows and doors for any gaps where heat can escape and cold air can seep in. Don’t forget to check the attic door, too!
  • Add insulation: While you’re checking the attic door, check the attic insulation. Insulation materials can settle and compress over time, reducing their effectiveness and can leave gaps where heat escapes.
  • Insulate pipes: Making sure your pipes at the water heater and in the crawl space are firmly wrapped will maximize their efficiency. It also will help prevent freezing and the risk of burst pipes.
  • Adjust the thermostat: If you’re living in a Singletary Construction home, you already have a smart thermostat since we include them in every home we build. But if not, consider upgrading your current thermostat. Smart thermostats allow you to adjust temperatures around your schedule. Adjusting the temperature by just a few degrees while you’re sleeping or not at home can have a significant impact on your monthly bill.
  • Maintain the heating system: If you haven’t already, call your HVAC provider to do a systems check to make sure everything is working properly and efficiently and be diligent about changing your filters. Not only will this conserve energy by ensuring the system doesn’t work harder than it needs to, but it’s better for your health too!
  • Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans: Set ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise to push warm air down. Warm air rises so running fans on a low setting will help circulate the air making heating more efficient.

Before you settle in for a long winter’s nap, take an afternoon to do a home check-up to make sure you’ll stay cozy when the temps begin to drop.