The Leading 10 Tips for Saving Energy and Money this Winter in Forest Park

 We here at Schauer's Hardware are studying ways to help keep you warm this winter. Here are a few steps every person can use to keep warm, save energy, and save money during winter. 

 

Many of us already know about ENERGY STAR appliances. But, did you know that ENERGY STAR has a variety of doors and windows? ENERGY STAR is all about energy efficient solutions. The way that a product is built becomes ENERGY STAR compliant by passing a series of standards to ensure you keep the warm in and the cold out during the colder seasons. Ask a Schauer's Hardware rep about the best way you can improve your house with a new window or door.

 

This may not sound like it’s that amazing but merely unplugging your things you use every day or appliances should assist and help you save gobs of money and/or energy until it’s warm out again. As they are presently designed, devices and gadets; such as printers, TV’s, electric ranges, and even laptops, can diminish your pocketbook while not even powered on. We can only suggest is a couple of surge protecting power strips to help make unplugging electronics in a manageable way and to help save your equipment in case of an electrical surge.

 

#8 Adorn with Energy Efficient Cloth Drapes

You may be happy to find out that the drapery you’ve been looking at can actually benefit you in saving money. Whether its window treatments, or even shutters, the appropriate set of blinds, should help to more effectively improve the temperature in your room. Curtains can help to isolate the area between your home and the outdoors, while a fantastic set of blinds and/or shades can alleviate and keep out sunlight in the summer months cooling your home. Shutters are also a great accessory, as they help to prevent wind, rain, and snow from bombarding your home in even the most rigid of weather.

For many of us, winter is the occasion for holidays. No matter the cause for your time away from home keep in mind to lower the setting on your water heater to its lowest setting or “vacation mode” when you’re on the go.

sometimes, our homes’ water heater may not be in the most practical of locations. In these few cases it is ideal that exposed water lines are adequately insulated. We have products to help you get the project done.

In more cooler and frigid conditions, it is critical to not forget the small things. Most importantly your plumbing. Frigid climate areas are prone to freeze, break, or erupt indoor plumbing pipes when temperatures drop below freezing. This is common in most homes’ kitchens or bathrooms. One smart tip is to leave cabinetry open during these times. This will allow for room temperature air to prevent the pipes from freezing over when not in use. This could save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on repairs or replacements.

 

#4 Space heaters will be your friend

It may sound unconventional to have space heaters in a contemporary residence. However, there are a lot of benefits to ordering and keeping a few space heaters convenient. In cases of emergency, a propane heater will do the trick to help heat inaccessible parts of your home. If it doesn't come down to that, portable electric space heaters should help lower the cost of your bill. This is do to only heating the rooms of the home you are using. It is suggested that you set your home’s thermostat to 62-70 degrees, but each room in use can sit at a very comfortable 75-80 degrees in the worst winter has to offer.

 

One object we tend to overlook is that old thermostat. It’s old and analog and doesn't do a satisfactory job of reading your home’s true temperature. Let us help you upgrade. Smart thermostats give the functionality for you to interact with your home’s central heating from a smartphone, set schedules, and detect trends in your usage and needs. Sometimes a more modern thermostat can help to better balance temperatures by giving an accurate account for current temperature and energy usage. aged analog thermostats suffer from being overused or having antiquated parts. Refreshing your thermostat may even save you enough money to pay for itself.

 

#2 Install New Insulation

It's no mystery that insulation works well to keep your home mild in the winter and chilly in the hot months. But did you know that many homes suffer from deficient insulation solutions? If your home is antique, it may be time to upgrade the basic insulation. Starting in places like the basement,attic, or garage, could help better balance out the rooms where your residence is losing heat. If you are uneasy about your home’s insulation, come by Schauer's Hardware and we’ll be glad to help you.

 

#1 Seal it Up

Never belittle the force of a proper sealing. Not only do homes need to be properly caulked, but sealing your windows can help you bypass leaky spaces in your home. Schauer's Hardware offers fantastic sealing solutions that we can stand by. We have project kits that can benefit you through the months of the year. Energy Star estimates that homes that have good sealing can save almost 20% on cooling and heating costs. This turns into more moolah for you to keep you feeling even warmer in the frigid days.

For more ideas and tips on how you can save more, talk to Schauer's Hardware in Forest Park.