Winter in Illinois can be brutal, bringing with it frigid temperatures and sky-high heating bills. But don’t despair! Ernst Heating & Cooling of Hamel, Illinois, has learned a few tricks in our more than 70 years of experience in the Metro East area. Plus, you don’t have to spend a bunch of extra money or be a mechanical genius to enjoy the warm rewards of these easy actions. Read on to make sure you’re taking every step to stay warm without heating up your energy bills this winter.
1. Embrace the Cozy
Are you looking for an excuse to huddle under a thick blanket in your warmest sweaters? Go ahead and use those plush throws you received over the holidays. Pull on some warm socks and use heavy draperies to create an extra barrier between your home and the frigid outdoors. While you’re at it, make a big pot of soup to warm yourself from the inside out.
2. Keep the cold where it belongs
Winter’s chill isn’t going to give up trying to come inside like an unwanted guest. Take a good look at where cold air might be literally seeping through the cracks. Seal any doors and windows with weatherstripping. A crackling fire can be a wonderful way to spend a snowy evening at home. But once the fire is out, make sure your fireplace damper is sealed tightly, and the fireplace doors are shut.
3. Check your vents
You may think you’re saving money if you close off the rooms you don’t use during the winter months. However, you can be potentially damaging your heating system when you do this. If you’re closing off the air supply – or if your sofa or another piece of furniture is blocking the vent – the return vent is still going to try to suck air into the ductwork. This depressurizes the room, which means cold air will rush in whenever a window or door is opened. Instead, try closing vents partially in those unused spaces. Remember, heat rises, so your second level may naturally stay warmer than the lower level.
4. Don’t pay to heat an empty home
If your home sits empty during the day, go ahead and set the thermostat several degrees lower. Notice that we say “set it lower.” We don’t want you to turn it off completely, even if you’re going to be gone for several days. Keep the temperature above 50°F to avoid frozen pipes. If you have pets in the home, make sure it stays at around 65°F for their comfort. If you’re still relying on an old-school manual thermostat, we recommend upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat. These allow you to set a schedule and let the thermostat take over the work of turning the setting up or down.
5. Make sure your heating system is running efficiently
Are you noticing certain warning signs from your heating system? Keep an eye out for red flags like squealing or grinding noises, strange smells or abnormally high heating bills. Sometimes a small problem can have a big effect on your heating system’s ability to keep your home cozy. If something seems awry, let a professional Ernst Heating & Cooling technician take a look. Remember, a well-maintained home comfort system pays you back in energy efficiency. Don’t skip the regular tune-ups because you think you’ll save a few bucks.
These five simple changes can provide considerable comfort during these final winter months here in Illinois. If your home comfort system isn’t keeping you warm this winter, reach out to Ernst now at 618-217-1836 to schedule a service call or request an appointment online at https://www.ernstheating.com/contact_us/. Winter’s not done with us yet. Make sure your home stays warm with your friends at Ernst.