There are a few months of winter ahead of us here in Charlottesville, so keeping our homes warm and comfortable is a top priority. Here are some tips on how you can keep it cozy without just cranking up the heat and paying for it when the energy bill arrives.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Insulate!

Making sure your home is sealed up and protected against drafts is the most immediately effective way to save on your energy bill. Letting those cracks under the door go unaddressed is like flushing money down the toilet. Think of all that warm air you’re paying for! It’s just slipping under the door and getting right outside.

Here’s a little checklist to help you get started:

• Caulk and weatherstrip your windows

• Add a door draft stopper

• Scan floorboards for cracks that need filling.

If you’re looking to do a little decorating this winter, adding a rug to a room can actually help keep warm air from escaping through your floorboards!

If you haven’t already, it’s time to reverse your ceiling fans for the winter season.

And no, it’s not an old wives tale! Adjusting your ceiling fans to spin counter-clockwise can help circulate warm air and push it downward. When summer returns, you should switch them back to run clockwise so that the warm air gets pushed up toward the ceiling and the cool air gets pushed down toward you.

Keep those inside doors open!

It’s a common misconception that keeping inside doors closed during the winter is helpful, but it restricts natural airflow and makes your system work overtime. Help your system maintain a more consistent temperature by keeping doors open and letting your system distribute heat evenly.

If you’ve tried these tips or others you’ve found online but are still dealing with high heating bills and a cold house, it might be time to get professional help. We would be happy to come take a look at your heating system!

Give us a call at 434-298-2151 or schedule service on our website.