
Want to save hundreds of dollars in San Diego air conditioning bills this winter while keeping your home warm? Check out these tips for identifying and fixing the most common problem areas, which when fixed, could significantly reduce your heating bill.
Replace Worn Weatherstripping
If the weatherstripping on openings like windows and doors is starting to show deterioration signs, promptly change it as the damage might cause a constant inflow of air drafts and a cold breeze that thwarts your attempts at heating your home.
Adjust Door Thresholds
The threshold underneath your door should always be in contact with the bottom of the door to prevent heated indoor air from leaking out. Seeing daylight from underneath your door while it’s closed is a sure warning sign that the threshold needs to be corrected. Luckily, you can elevate the threshold by turning the screws found along its length counterclockwise until it’s high enough to only let in a tiny bit of sunlight through the corner while allowing you to comfortably open and close the door when you need to.
Eliminate Electrical Box Drafts
When left unchecked, a lack of insulation around your home’s exterior electrical boxes could cause drafts that come in through the spaces in between. To prevent this, place acrylic latex caulk or foam sealant inside the gaps that you find, and cover the outlet with a foam gasket.
Plug Holes in Exterior Walls
Check for any gaps in the electrical cables Lakeland, gas lines, and pipes that come into your house. Use expanding foam to seal any that you find.
Get a Portable Heater
Instead of using the furnace to heat the entire home, get a portable heater and place it in the most used area of your house. This could reduce your air conditioning San Diego, CA cost by up to 3%.
Cover Windows and Patio Doors with Plastic Film
Use clear plastic film as a temporary insulation cover for your doors and windows during the winter time, thus eliminating the heat loss often caused by these openings.
Keep Warm Air from Escaping Up the Chimney
Chimneys account for a significant amount of heat loss when not in use, which is why you need to trap the air in by closing off the chimney flue with a chimney balloon, which you can deflate and take out whenever you want to start a fire again.
Insulate the Attic Door
Prevent heat loss through the attic hatch by insulating the door with fiberglass batt.
Seal Air Leaks
Check the ductwork in your attic for leaks and close up any that you see with metal tape or mastic sealant. This can improve your home’s HVAC San Diego, CA efficiency by up to 30%.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
If you’re still using an old-school thermostat, then you’re losing out on all the energy-saving and bill-cutting benefits of newer models. You can now preprogram modern thermostats to automatically decrease the temperature when you’re asleep or when no one is at home, saving you more than you can imagine in energy bills.
What’s more is that there’s a growing variety of thermostats now available, with entry-level models starting at $25, while the more sophisticated higher-end lifestyle models can cost upwards of $200. However, these thermostats are well worth the price and are great value for money when you consider the long-term benefits.