Energy consumption in Cleveland goes up in the winter, especially on exceptionally cold days. The Department of Energy estimates that half or more of the energy you use goes toward cooling and heating your home. You can use these tips to lower your energy bills to achieve energy savings year-round. Sealing air leaks, adding insulation and keeping your furnace in top condition improve your home’s overall energy efficiency.

Air infiltration

  • Check your window and door frames inside and out for small cracks. Seal the cracks around the window frames with caulk and apply fresh weatherstripping if you can see daylight between the door and the frame.
  • Look for holes around places where pipes, wires or cables enter your home. If they’re fairly large, use expanding foam to seal them.
  • Inspect the basement sill plate, which is the joint between the foundation and the first floor of your home. Leaks between this joint can be fixed with caulk or foam, depending on their size.
  • Lock all your windows after closing up your home for winter. If you still feel leaks, use clear plastic window sealing kits to stop the drafts from the windows themselves.

Insulation

If you have less than 16 inches of insulation in the attic, your energy consumption throughout the year will go down if you add more. Batt or blown-in insulation is affordable and relatively easy to install, and lasts for decades.

Servicing your furnace

Most of the homes in this region use natural gas for heating, and regardless of the type of heating system you use, it’ll benefit from professional maintenance. The HVAC contractor can go through your entire system, including the ducts, making adjustments that increase its efficiency and your safety.

If you’d like to learn more about reducing your home’s energy consumption, contact Stack Heating & Cooling. We’ve provided HVAC services to Cleveland-area homeowners since 1976.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about cutting your energy consumption and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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