How to Lower Your Heating and Air Costs this Winter
After a year, it’s finally that time again throughout Kalamazoo and beyond: wintertime. And if there’s one thing to expect every winter in Michigan, it’s that things are going to get cold soon.
While us Michiganders are no stranger to a cold winter, the true struggle for many residents is just the struggle to keep heating costs down. If you’ve ever spent a full winter in Michigan, then you know that the price of heating and air can really pile up over time.
That said, we here at JP Heating & Air Conditioning have learned quite a few tips and tricks throughout our years of experience. Today, we want to share some of our tricks for keeping heating and air costs down this winter.
Insulate, Insulate, Insulate
Without a doubt, the best and most direct way to reduce heating costs for any home is by insulating. Here are a couple insulation tips that we recommend for every client:
Seal Window Edges with Caulk. Despite being shockingly affordable (as little as $3 at Walmart!) using caulk to seal your window edges can make a huge difference to your heating and air costs. You see, as windows age the wood beings to warp, creating open spaces between the glass pane and the window frame. As a result, cold winter air seeps in more and more every year. We recommend caulking the edges of your window panes to create a protective barrier in minutes.
Insulate Your Attic. Most homes have them, but homeowners rarely ever visit them. Attics are often forgotten about in the winter (or at least until Christmas, when it’s time to retrieve decorations from storage), but they’re also a leading culprit of heating costs. Because many homeowners don’t pay close attention to their attics, they often fail to notice when their attic’s insulation deteriorates. If you have an attic, we recommend checking its insulation and getting new insulation installed if it’s old or ineffective.
Keep Your Hot Water Heater in Good Condition
In addition to your heating and air costs, you should also keep an eye on how your hot water heater is performing. In the winter, your hot water heater will have to work overtime in order to put out the same output. On top of that, your hot water heater will also be taking in colder water while still outputting the same temperature of hot water, which leads to expansion and contraction of the metal. Over time, this can cause serious damage to your hot water heater and undermine its performance. To prevent any costly repairs to your water heater, we recommend taking a few basic steps:
- Insulate your plumbing pipes
- Upgrade any old or poorly performing showerheads and faucet aerators
- Wash your clothes using cold water
- Keep your home and the room your water heater is in at a warm temperature
Heating and Air Difficulties? Contact JP!
Here at JP Heating and Air Conditioning, we understand that any heating and air conditioning system can break down—that’s just life. That’s why our professionals are only a phone call away, whether it’s day, night, or holiday. For more information on our services, click here to contact our team today!
