Kansas Country Living Magazine
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Sunday Pork Roast with Vegetables
    • Recipes
    • Co-op Community
    • Energy Wise
    • Beef Tri-Tip Roast with Rosemary-Garlic Vegetables
    • Whole Wheat Chocolate Peppermint Drop Cookies
    • Savory Leek, Raisin and Ricotta Tart
    • Grape and Spinach Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Dressing
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
    Kansas Country Living Magazine
    Banner
    • Regular Stuff
      • Commentary
        • CEO Viewpoint
        • Editor’s Letter
      • Co-op Community Commitment
      • Energy Wise
      • Features
      • Cooking My Way Home
      • Your Place in the Garden
      • News Briefs
      • Safety
      • Web Exclusive
      • Current Issue
      • Archives
    • Recipes
      • View Recipes
      • Submit a Recipe
    • Around Kansas
      • View Around Kansas
      • Submit an Event
    • Share With Us
      • Submit a Photo
      • Submit an Event
      • Submit a Recipe
      • Submit a Story
    • My Co-op
    • About
      • About KCL
      • Staff
      • Contributors
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise
      • Contact
    Kansas Country Living Magazine
    Home » Articles » Winterization Delivers Energy Savings
    Energy Wise

    Winterization Delivers Energy Savings

    Shaylee KoelzerBy Miranda BoutelleDecember 1, 20224 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    How can I keep my home warm while saving on my electric bill this winter?

    Winterizing is an important step to keep your home cozy and your bills low. These tried-and-true methods will ensure your home is sealed tight and ready for colder weather. I’ve also included tips that address common misconceptions.

    Man wraps water heater in insulating blanket.
    Insulating your water heater can save 7% to 16% on water heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
    Insulating Pipes and Water Heater

    You can raise the water temperature inside your home’s water pipes by 2 to 4 degrees by insulating, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Insulating allows you to turn down the heat on your water heater, saving energy and money.

    Start by insulating the pipes coming out of your water heater. If you have a gas water heater, keep pipe insulation at least 6 inches away from the flue. Insulate hot and cold water lines. The latter can prevent condensation and freezing pipes. Insulating your water heater can save 7% to 16% on water-heating costs, DOE says. Insulation kits are available at hardware stores. Don’t obstruct the pressure relief valve, thermostats or access valves.

    Air Sealing

    Air sealing and insulation are a great combination for minimizing home energy use. Insulation is like a warm sweater for your home, and air sealing is the wind breaker. All the cracks, gaps and holes in a typical home can be like having a window open year-round. Air sealing eliminates those leaks. It can be done as a do-it-yourself project or by a professional.

    Window Sealing and Improvements

    Windows can be a source of drafts and wasted energy. Close windows tightly.
    Add weatherstripping around windows to prevent warm air from escaping your home and caulk the gaps where the window trim meets the wall and the window frame. Add curtains to make the room feel warmer.
    Storm windows are a lower-cost option for upgrading single-pane windows. They are available with low-emissivity coatings, which insulate better, and are available for installation either from the inside or outside of the window.

    A dog sits in front of a roaring fire place.
    Your fireplace adds ambience to your home but isn’t necessarily effective at heating it. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, close the damper when your fire is extinguished.
    Fireplace Dampers

    When I was little, my dad told me it was too cold to have a fire. I remember thinking that made no sense, but he was right.

    We had an open, wood-burning fireplace — not a wood stove. A fireplace can draw the warm air out of the house, cooling it down or causing your heating system to use more energy.

    Your fireplace adds ambience to your home but isn’t necessarily effective at heating it. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, close the damper when your fire is extinguished. An open damper in the winter is an easy exit for the air you paid to heat.

    Adding tempered glass doors to a wood-burning fireplace can create an extra buffer between the cold outside and a cozy living space.

    Some gas fireplaces require a damper to remain permanently open so gas can vent out of the home. Check the specifications of your unit to ensure safe operation.

    Through the years, I have heard a lot of debate about closing off rooms or parts of the home to save energy. Best practices come down to the type of heat source.
    Best Practices for Closing Off Parts of a Home

    Through the years, I have heard a lot of debate about closing off rooms or parts of the home to save energy.

    Best practices come down to the type of heat source. If you have a zonal heating system, where individual areas are controlled separately, you can close doors and only heat the areas you use. Examples of zonal systems are wall heaters, baseboard heat, hydronic radiant heat, radiators and ductless heat pumps, also called mini-splits.

    Keep areas with plumbing or water lines warm enough so pipes do not freeze.

    If you have a central forced-air heating system, leave doors open to all heated areas. Closing doors and/or register dampers forces the system to work harder, uses more energy and can shorten the life of heating equipment.

    Check Your Filters

    Maintaining a clean filter in your furnace is one of the best ways to keep it running efficiently and prevent costly repairs. Check your furnace or ductless heat pump filter monthly during peak heating season. KCL
    Miranda Boutelle is the director of operations and customer engagement at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company.

    Miranda Boutelle is the director of operations and customer engagement at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company.

    photos by Mark Gilliland
    energy efficiency filter furnace heating insulation warmth
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleStart an Indoor Salad Garden
    Next Article Keeping Power Flowing Calls for Innovative Approaches


    Post Frame Buildings
    Categories
    • CEO Viewpoint
    • Co-op Community Commitment
    • Commentary
    • Cooking My Way Home
    • Editor's Letter
    • Energy Wise
    • Featured Home
    • Features
    • News Briefs
    • President's Pen
    • Recipes
    • Safety
    • Uncategorized
    • Web Exclusive
    • Your Place in the Garden


    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    About

    Kansas Country Living

    Kansas Country Living is designed to educate Kansas electric cooperative consumer-members on topics that impact rural electrification.

    We're social, connect with us:

    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
    Popular Posts

    Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches

    September 8, 2023

    Air Fryer Popcorn Steak Bites

    September 8, 2023
    A man's gloved hand grabs fall-colored leaves from a house gutter.

    Fall Yardwork Step One: Locate Power Lines

    September 8, 2023
    ©2022 Kansas Electric Cooperative, Inc.. A Touchstone Energy Cooperative
    • About
    • Privacy
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.