Keep it cozy this winter
Want to make sure your home holds as much heat as it possibly can? Read on for IMU’s best tips for keeping the cold out, the heat in, and your tootsies toasty and warm.
Take care of drafts
It’s easier to find drafts once winter winds start blowing, so check your windows and doors and take measures to seal them out.
Seal up windows. Drafty windows will allow cold air to enter your home, and significantly increase your heating bills. If you have older windows, seal up the drafts. For best results, check and seal all your windows, not just the draftiest.
Check weatherstripping. Plastic weatherstripping will degrade overtime. Check and replace any that is cracked or peeling.
Use draft stoppers. For bigger gaps in window sills or under doors, add draft stoppers to prevent cold air from getting in. These are fabric tubes filled with dense materials that sit at the bottom of the doorway or window panes.
Fill in small cracks. If you’ve got any hairline cracks in the windows, you can use clear nail polish to seal them up. Just make sure you don’t use this tip on any windows with a coating, as the nail polish can harm it.
If you haven’t already, put up your storms. The newest storm windows will take care of most drafts and increase the R-value of your windows.
Program your thermostat (then leave it alone!)
Did you know that fiddling with your thermostat all day can increase your heating costs? It’s true!
Asking for quick temperature changes of more than a couple degrees sends your furnace into overdrive, using more energy to heat things up.
Luckily, there is an easy solution. Most thermostats made today are programmable, so you can input different times and temperatures, and it will automatically adjust the temperature of your house accordingly.
Let’s say you work a standard 9-5 job outside the home. You might program your thermostat for 68° at 6:00am when you wake up, then lower it to 64° at 8:30am when you leave for work. At 4:30pm, program it back to 68° for when you get home. Finally, lower the temperature again overnight.
Try not to go more than four degrees in either direction, as this is especially taxing on your furnace.
PRO TIP: If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, IMU offers rebates for customers who choose to upgrade! More information can be found at www.indianola.com/electric.
Check your vents
Blocked vents can lead to an imbalance in the distribution of heat in your home, leaving the rooms with blocked vents cold and sending too much hot air to the vents that are open. Go around your house and make sure all the heat vents are open, and that they aren’t blocked by furniture or other objects.
Let the sun shine in
On sunny days, open the curtains and take advantage of the free heat! Allowing the sun to shine in the windows and heat things up will take some of the load off your furnace.
Close the flue
Who doesn’t love a crackling fire on a winter night? Just remember to close the flue on your fireplace when you’ve extinguished your fire, otherwise the cold air from outside can blow right in your house, lowering the overall temperature and kicking on your furnace. It’s also important to close the doors to your fireplace, if there are any. This will help to prevent cold entering from the flue.
Embrace coziness
Winter’s not all bad. Indulge in fleecy throws, a favorite sweater or hoodie, warm slippers, even a beanie (“house hat,” anyone?). Warm drinks like cocoa and tea really cut the chill and warm you from the inside out. Your body will thank you!