Now’s the Time to Work on Reducing Heating Costs in Your Fairfax Home

They say there’s no time like the present, which means now is the perfect time to reduce heating costs in your Fairfax home before the cold weather settles in. There are many ways to do this, but we would suggest starting with these tips:

Lower the Temperature

The ideal daytime/occupied home setting for the colder months is 68 degrees. This will help reduce heating costs without being uncomfortable for most people. If you can bear to keep the thermostat even lower, do it. For each degree lower you go consistently, your heating costs will decrease by approximately 2-3 percent. And remember, most people can sleep comfortable with the temperature five to 10 degrees cooler than the daytime temperature. Similarly, lower the temperature when you leave the house for the day.

Fix Air Leakage

Your home is likely full of air leaks, whether you realize it or not. Luckily, most are easy to fix. For example, the gaps around your doors and windows can be sealed with caulk or weatherstripping in most cases. Inspect the outside of the house and use caulk or spray foam to seal cracks and gaps around plumbing and electrical penetrations, or where building materials meet each other.

Add Insulation

Without the proper type of amount of insulation, your home will be unable to retain heat. The areas to hit are your exterior walls, attic, and basement. Dusts running through uninsulated areas also should be insulated. If you’re in doubt about your insulation installation skills, call on the help of a professional. 

Set Water Heater to ‘Warm’

Many homeowners have their water heaters set to their highest setting, which is often 140 degrees or more. You don’t need the water heater to be this high, and turning it down will reduce heating costs without affecting your showers or the water needed to wash clothes or dishes. Another way to lower energy usage is to wrap then older water heater in an insulating blanket, which will prevent heat loss.

For more expert advice on how to reduce heating costs, or if you have other questions related to home comfort, please contact us at Brennan’s Heating & Air. We’ve been serving the needs of Fairfax and Northern Virginia since 1979.