Heating your home throughout cold Pittsburgh winters can be costly, especially for homeowners with older homes, where insulation and sealing may have deteriorated. Small gaps in your home or damaged exterior products may initially seem harmless but can contribute to significant energy loss and high energy costs over time. Keep dollars in your pocket this winter with our cost-effective strategies for sustainably heating your home.
Identifying and repairing any sources of heat loss in your home can dramatically change your monthly utility costs. Gaps in windows and doors or around pipes and wiring in your attic are just two of the major contributors to heat loss.
Signs of gaps or leaks in your home include:
Using correct weatherstripping and caulking techniques and conducting seasonal inspections of your home will help you to keep heat inside your home and lower your energy costs.
Programmable thermostats, also known as clock thermostats, allow you to adjust the temperature of your home based on a programmed schedule or cycle. While you’re at work, running errands or away on a trip, you can set the thermostat to a cooler temperature to avoid heating an empty house. It may take some time to determine what temperature schedule is best for your home, but once perfected, programmable thermostats save energy—and dollars!
Regardless of your HVAC system, routine maintenance should be completed at least once a year. In doing so, any necessary repairs will be completed before temperatures drop, keeping your system running efficiently. Changing filters, clearing debris from vents and cleaning outdoor units can be done on your own, but an HVAC professional should be called for repairs, advanced maintenance or replacements.
Zone heating enables you to section your home and heat it accordingly via dampers. Dampers are plates or valves that control the flow of air and heat throughout your home; for a zoned heating system, those decisions are made by thermostats placed in each zone or section of your home. If your home’s central system creates hot or cold spots, zoned heating will allow for more consistent heating throughout your home.
As we mentioned before, outdated or damaged windows and doors drain heat from your home, leaving you vulnerable to that chilly Pennsylvania winter air. If your heat is escaping through a warped frame, cracked glass or improper installation, you could lose anywhere between 25%–30% of heating and cooling energy. Drafty windows and doors don’t improve with time, so addressing the problem as soon as possible is a critical step in preventing your energy costs from skyrocketing.
Keep your home comfortable all year long with custom replacement windows from Window World of Pittsburgh. Increase your home’s energy efficiency and shave dollars off of your monthly utility bill when you get started with our team today!