Winterize Your Home to Save on Heating Costs

Here in Arizona, we tend to think of cutting energy costs in the summer, when air conditioning our homes, but there are simple ways to cut your winter energy bills as well. Take a few hours this weekend to winterize your home and make it more energy efficient.


•  Do a simple inspection of your home to find cracks and seams that allow drafts into the house and allow
   heat to escape. A flame on a lighter or candle can help you uncover drafts around windows and doors.
   Seal with weather stripping or caulk. This will also benefit you in the heat of summer.

•  Flip a switch and save. Ceiling fans aren’t just for cooling – reverse your fans to a clockwise direction and
   the fan will push warm air from the ceiling down into your rooms. This simple “switch” could save you up
   to 10% on energy costs.

•  Mark your calendar to check the air filters in your furnace or fan coil monthly. Dirty filters restrict airflow,
    which uses more energy and causes excessive wear on your furnace.

•  Make a small investment in a programmable thermostat so you’re not heating an empty house or lower
   your thermostat for times you aren’t home. You could save from 1 to 3% on your heating bill for every
   degree you lower your thermostat.

•  Schedule a routine inspection and tune-up of your heating system to keep it running at its most efficient,
   saving you money on your energy bills.