Cold months can make a serious impact on your energy bill. Here are some tips and tricks to keeping your bills down this winter.
1. Insulation
Insulation is one of the key things in the construction of the house that helps keep your energy bill low all year long. Older houses may or may not have good insulation, the only real way to know is to look. Professional contractors can take small sections of the drywall off of the wall to see what lays beneath. This is going to cost some money, but the investment will be worth it in the end.
2. Paint all exterior wood
If your house has a wood exterior you need to keep the paint on that wood fresh. If the paint is not maintained the wood will weather and not be able to keep the cold out. There is a difference between interior and exterior paints, so make sure to use the proper paint for the exterior of your house.
3 Caulk windows and thresholds
Caulk is available at most hardware stores and comes in multiple colors. All the edges of windows need to be sealed, usually every year. Doorways and thresholds should be checked for any cracks or leaks each year. Any cracks around windows or doors will allow cold air in and hot air out. Not only does this mean that your house will be colder but it also means that your heating and AC machines will have to work harder and use more energy.
4 Thermal curtains
Windows are the main place you are going to lose energy. Older windows especially. Curtains are a simple way of controlling the temperature without using more energy. Look for blackout or thermal curtains, available on amazon or in hardware stores.
5 Pipe insulation
Exposed pipes, especially on the exterior of the house need to have some insulation around them to keep them from bursting or releasing any of the heat coming from the water heater. If the water heater is in the garage or an unheated part of the house, make sure to add some insulation to that area.
6 Get your furnace and boiler inspected.
Take no chances and sign a contract with a reputable heating company. Many oil and propane suppliers are happy to bring you on board with an annual service contract.
Houses take a lot of upkeep and management. If you are in a situation where you can not afford to do this sort of upkeep or if you have recently inherited a home that is impossible to maintain, please don’t stress about paying those bills. Contact Kentucky Sell Now to receive a fair cash offer today.