16 Tips to Winterize Your Home & Save On Electric Bill

We’re now in the early days of winter, and the cold weather becomes more noticeable with each passing day. Colder weather means it’s time to crank up the heat and keep your living space cozy, but that also means a dreadfully high electric bill. How to save on your electric bills in winter? Winterize your home!

 
We’ve collected 16 ways to winterize your home and how to save on electric bill in winter! Follow our checklist below.

When leaving your home for vacation, you’ll want to do the following, or else you may return to your house looking like a Frozen-themed wonderland:

By following these steps, you can travel with the peace of mind of knowing that you have winterized your home.

In many cases, local power companies will offer an energy assessment free of cost. Just let them know that you’re working on winterizing your home. They’ll tour your residence and make any necessary recommendations to help you winterize your home and be more energy efficient. 

Adding water heater blankets is an easy step in the winterization process. Most local hardware stores carry water heater blankets that you can quickly add to your home water heater. Doing this can save 7% to 16% in water heater costs. That said, gas water heaters are exempt from this, as any escaping heat travels through the flue. 

By doing this, you can prevent frozen pipes and enjoy the holidays.

Furnace maintenance may sound like a complicated step. However, you likely will only need to change your air filters. If you don’t already, you’ll want to do this every three months. A clean filter allows the furnace to run more efficiently and not work as hard as a dirt and dust-filled one. New filters are another easy way to winterize your home. We always recommend this to people who ask for simple ways to save on electric bills in the winter. 

Next up, grab your ladder. Then, we’ll climb onto your roof for this next step in winterizing your home. You’ll want to look for the following:

Another big step in winterizing your home is to trim back your branches. If branches hang over your home and cars, they can accumulate ice and snap, causing damage to your property. 

We constantly get asked, “how can I save money on my electric bill in winter?” Another super easy way to winterize your home is to switch out your standard curtains for thicker/heavier thermal curtains. These heavier curtains prevent heat loss and block out cold air coming from your window.

It’s essential to have a home emergency kit ready, so you’re ready for any possible disaster. These are perfect to create when winterizing your home, as winter weather can keep you from leaving your house and leave you without power for an extended time. 

For a more extensive list, you can  click here  to view a printable checklist from FEMA.

Air gaps are nasty no matter the time of year. Air gaps are simple gaps around your windows/doors that can cause drafts. So by sealing these with caulking, you can help save money on your electric bill in winter and summer. It’s all about keeping out cold & warm air.

You should fill your air gaps with caulk, but besides that, you can also:

Are you looking into how to save on your electric bill in winter? That’s where smart devices such as smart thermostats come into play. You can better control your home temp with just a click of a button, no matter where you are.

Your house plants are part of your home. Your plants matter! Not just because you invested your time and money, but they will also help filter your air. Much like your pet, if you’re cold, they’re cold. So bring any plants you can inside.

Another step to winterizing your home is preparing the outside of your home for harsh weather. So look at what you have outside , and find storage in your garage or shed. A simple protective cover will do if you have something that can’t be easily moved, like a grill. Next, unplug any outdoor electronics and move them inside. This step will not only help save on your electric bill but also save your items and keep you from spending money on repairs or replacements in the long run.

Now in case of a winter storm, you’ll want to make sure you have everything needed to clear away ice and snow. Also, make sure your snow equipment is well maintained. 

You’ve completed the checklist! Now you know how to save on electric bill in winter and how to winterize your home confidently. If you have any other questions or are curious about converting your residence to a smart home, reach out today.