5 Cost-Effective Ways To Heat Your Connecticut Home During Winter

Heating your home throughout the cold Connecticut winter can be costly, especially for homeowners with older homes, where insulation and sealing may have deteriorated over time. 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. 

Seal Any Drafty Leaks to Keep Warm Air Inside

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 that your home may have gaps or leaks include:

• Drafts around windows or doors
• Condensation on the inside of window panes
• Visible gaps around electrical outlets, wiring or frames
• Unusually high heating or cooling bills

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. 

Install Programmable Thermostats to Save Energy and Improve Home Comfort

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! 

Conduct Regular Heating System Maintenance

No matter the type of HVAC system you have, it’s essential to schedule routine maintenance at least once a year. Regular upkeep helps identify and address any necessary repairs before colder temperatures arrive, ensuring your system continues to run efficiently throughout the winter. While you can handle basic tasks like changing filters, clearing debris from vents and cleaning outdoor units, it’s important to call in an HVAC professional for more complex maintenance, repairs or replacements. This proactive approach can prevent costly breakdowns and extend the lifespan of your system.

Try Zone Heating to Boost Comfort and Enhance Energy Efficiency

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. 

Save More with Energy-Efficient Solutions from Window World of Connecticut

As we mentioned before, outdated or damaged windows and doors drain heat from your home. 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 with energy-efficient doors and windows as soon as possible is a critical step in preventing your energy costs from skyrocketing. Triple-pane windows are a good investment against New England winters, providing much more energy efficiency and protection against heat loss than double-pane or single-pane windows. 

Save More with Window World of Connecticut

Keep your home comfortable all year long with custom replacement windows from Window World of Connecticut. Increase your home’s energy efficiency and shave dollars off of your monthly utility bill when you get started with our team today!