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Break out your hats, gloves, and scarves! After a two year hiatus, winter has arrived in Bucks County in full force! The mild days we grew accustomed to these past two years have been replaced with icy cold temperatures and vicious winds.

In this cold, it may be tempting to turn up your thermostat to 80 degrees, but doing so could have a major impact on your wallet.

Below are several cost-effective tips to keep your home warm this winter:

  1. Take advantage of the sun’s free heat! During the day, open the curtains on south facing windows and allow the sun to warm each room. Come sunset, close the curtains to keep that heat inside.
  2. Bundle up! Instead of turning your thermostat all the way up, wear warm socks and sweater or hoodie on when you’re home and keep blankets readily available on your favorite couch or chairs.
  3. Place throw rugs on wood or tile floors to keep them insulated.
  4. Don’t lower your thermostat too much at bedtime and/or when you’re at work. Your heater will have to work longer and harder to bring the temperature back up. Instead, leave the temperature set at where you are most comfortable when the weather is extremely hot or cold.
  5. Use flannel sheets and put an extra blanket on your bed to stay warm. If you tend to get really cold, place a hot water bottle at the foot of your bed to keep your toes toasty all night long!
  6. Move your furniture so it doesn’t block the vents. It might feel delightful to sit on a nice warm chair that sits on top of a vent, but doing so limits the air flow and actually makes heating your entire home more difficult.
  7. Windows are notorious for letting in the cold air. Caulking your windows is a cost-effective way to stop the cold from entering and keep the warmth inside. Check out this article on how to check for air leaks.
  8. Close off any unused rooms. Keep the doors to these rooms closed to prevent cold air from spreading and seal off the vents to redirect the air flow to the rooms you use most.
  9. Fill in the gap between the floor and the door with a draft stopper.
  10. Open your oven door after you’re finished cooking. All the warm air will add some extra heat to your kitchen!
  11. Change your filters often. The dirtier the filter, the harder the system has to work; and the harder it works, the more likely the system will need to be repaired. Changing the filters regularly can increase efficiency by 5% to 15%. Use pleated filters as they are better at filtering the air and keeping your system clean.
  12. If you burn oil, make sure you have a sufficient amount at all times. Running out of oil could cause severe and costly problems to your system.
  13. Get your furnace a yearly checkup. Regular maintenance will reduce energy consumption and confirm efficiency for the coming season. Additionally, tune-ups help prevent costly system repairs.
  14. Have a back-up plan in place in case you lose power or heat. Make sure you have gas for the generator, wood for the fireplace, and flashlights and candles on hand. It’s also a good idea to make arrangements with a friend or relative in case you need a place to go and stay warm.To ensure your warm all winter long, call A&A Mechanical at 215-396-1525 for more information about furnace checkups and heating options. We are licensed and insured HVAC contractors with more than 30 years of experience in HVAC tune-ups, repairs, and installation.
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