5 Home Improvement Tips to Help Lower Your Heating Bill

One of the most obvious returns on investment for home improvements are lower utility bills. Here in Michigan, during the fall and winter, the utility bill that every Michigander wants to improve is the heating bill. Luckily, lowering your heating bills this winter is easy with just a few home improvements.

Improve Your Heating Bill This Winter With These 5 Home Improvements

Seal Your Windows

One of the most common ways to lose your heat during the winter is from a poorly sealed window. Up to 20% of the air that infiltrates or leaks from your house goes through your windows. Whether it be cracks, gaps, or just a poor seal, your windows could be attributing to your high heating bill. Using caulk, seal around the perimeter of the glass from the inside and the outside. Using a clear silicone caulk helps the seal blend in.

One way to improve your heating bill a lot is to invest in new windows. You can lower your energy bills by 12% just by replacing your old windows with Energy Star certified windows.

Seal Your Doors

Another excellent way to lower your energy bills during the winter is by making sure the seals on your doors are still holding up. If you notice cracks or gaps in the seal around your doors, then it’s time to reseal them. Just like with your windows, doors can leak a lot of air from your house. Poorly sealed doors also contribute to cold drafts throughout your home.

An easy fix to this is to simply invest in some weather stripping. Install weather stripping to your doors to ensure the seals hold, keeping you warm and your bills low this winter.

Evaluate and Improve Your Siding

An overlooked way to lose heat and cause your heating bills to spike during the winter is through cracks and gaps in the siding of your house. Take a walk around the exterior of your home and check for any obvious wear and tear on your siding. If you find any cracks or gaps, seal them immediately with caulk.

You could go one step further by having new siding installed. By replacing the old siding on your house with new siding, you ensure that any and all weaknesses in your current siding are eliminated.

Optimize Your Ducts and Heating System

Improving and optimizing your heating ducts and the system in general can improve your heating situation this winter. One way to improve the efficiency of your heating system is to seal your ducts. It’s possible to lose up to 60% of your heated air if you have poorly sealed ducts. A common mistake in this situation is to use duct tape, unfortunately this solution isn’t long-lasting. It’s better to use metal tape. It’s also a good idea to call up your HVAC technician to give your system a tune up.

Check Your Insulation

Finally, we’ve come to the insulation. Insulation is the major component in retaining the heat in your home while also protecting you from the cold outside. Over time, insulation becomes less efficient. Regularly checking your insulation can help alert you to any opportunities for improvement within your walls. In the winter, if your house isn’t retaining heat the way you want it to, add insulation. This added layer of insulation improves the efficiency of your heating system and it’ll help you in the summer too, when the added insulation helps retain your air conditioning.

For These and Other Services, Contact S&S Property Preservation Today

If you’re looking to keep the cold at bay throughout the winter, then it’s time for some home improvements and there’s no better choice in home improvements in the Metro-Detroit area than S&S Property Preservation. Check out the incredible services for External Construction, Interior Construction, and Property Preservation. For more information and to set up your Free Consultation, call us at (313) 241-6155.

Keep up with the latest tips and tricks for home improvement and property preservation, then check out the S&S Blog. You can also stay up to date on the latest news and offerings from S&S Property Preservation by following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and check out our helpful videos on YouTube.