On average, about 15 to 20 percent of heating costs are lost to home inefficiencies. That translates to a lot of money! The major cause of this heat loss? Leaks that allow heated air to escape through unseen gaps, cracks, nooks, and crannies throughout the structure. As a friendly tip, here are several simple ways to save money on your Atlanta home’s heating bill this winter:

Tighten Up the Home

The thermal envelope
of your home is anything and everything that separates the living space of your
home from the outside environment. If you can improve the thermal envelope in
any way, you should do so. Most often, the biggest problems occur with the
windows and doors.  You can close up
micro air gaps with weather stripping, locking gaskets, and insulator kits.

Seal Up the Attic
Pull-Down Stairs

If you’ve got a
foldable attic staircase, it’s probably allowing a lot of heat exchange with
the cold attic air. You can stop the heat loss by sealing up the cracks with
insulative batting, closing any gaps with weather stripping, and caulk sealant
when appropriate. Your heating bill will thank you!

Improve Insulation
Value of Home Décor

Heavy drapes and
carpet can go a long way to improve the insulative quality of your home. This
solution will cost a little money, but it is cheaper than replacing windows or
tearing open walls to add spray foam or batting insulation where it is needed. On
the other hand, it may be entirely appropriate to add more insulation to the
home where it is most needed. Your heating bill may be greatly improved by
adding a layer of insulation to the attic.

Install Smart
Thermostat to Lower the Heating Bill

A programmable
thermostat is an effective way to optimize the temperature of your home. It
gives you granular control of when, and for how long a given thermal setting
operates during the day or night. With a smart thermostat, you can also
remotely monitor and override the setting when needed. The scheduling
functionality means you can program your thermostat to automatically lower the
heat to a predetermined temperature during the day while you’re out, and then
raise it again before you return home.

Close Up the Chimney

If you live in a
home with a wood burning stove that you don’t regularly use, the open chimney
can allow a lot of heat to escape the house, racking up your monthly heating
bill. You can seal up this built-in air escape with a chimney balloon or a
fitted cover.

When You’re Ready to
Move

Looking for a home with a tighter thermal envelope? If you’re ready for a conversation about the options in the Atlanta market today, call our pro team here at DUFFY Realty. Your needs are our priority. Call today for a conversation at (678) 318-1700.