Here are a few simple, everyday steps you can take around your home that can have a surprising impact on your winter energy costs and comfort:

• Take advantage of natural sunlight. Open curtains during the day to welcome in the sun’s warmth, then close them at night to hold in the heat.
• Set the thermostat lower when you are asleep or away. Many smart thermostat models will do this automatically, so you can set it and forget it. Otherwise, consider a programmable model.
• Layer up. Wearing more layers of clothing around the home will help keep you warm without raising the thermostat. When sleeping, use a thick blanket or comforter.
• Close the damper on your fireplace when not in use. This will help prevent cold air from entering through the chimney. If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue with a fireproof material.

Easy, less-frequent ways to prepare your home for the cold include:

• Have your HVAC system serviced annually. Getting a tune-up before heating season will help ensure your system is running efficiently and identify any maintenance needs.
• Set your ceiling fans to turn clockwise. A clockwise spin pushes air upward toward the ceiling, which helps to circulate warm air near the ceiling down to the rest of the room.
• Add rugs to uncarpeted floors. Rugs can be a simple and stylish way to keep your feet warm on cold floors.
• Move furniture away from air vents. Keeping the space around your air vents clear helps the warm air from your heating system circulate freely.
• Clear snow away from dryer and furnace vents. Making sure your vents are clear after each snowfall can help prevent damage to your appliances and allows exhaust fumes and carbon monoxide to leave your home effectively.
• Replace your HVAC filters once a month or as needed. Regularly replacing your filters helps keep your system running smoothly and improves indoor air quality.
• Insulate your pipes. Adding insulation to your hot-water pipes and the first six feet of cold-water pipe leading to your water heater helps prevent heat loss, so your water heater doesn’t have to work as hard.

Ensuring your home has proper air sealing and insulation are two of the most important factors for maintaining an energy-efficient home. Done right, it can help reduce your heating and cooling costs while locking in extra comfort all year long. It may also help reduce drafts, ice dams, pests, allergens, and outside noise.

To help get you started, Focus on Energy offers rebates for insulation and air sealing improvements completed by a Trade Ally contractor. If you prefer a hands-on approach, we offer a DIY attic insulation and air sealing rebate, too.

A Trade Ally contractor can help you discover even more ways to save this winter and beyond with a home energy assessment.