The winter in Western PA is cold. And when it’s cold outside this often means a rise in monthly expenses to keep you and your family warm. Fortunately, we here at Mihalko’s General Contracting take an interest in our neighbors getting the most for their money. That’s why we here at Mihalko’s have put together a list of some of the best general contractor tips on being energy efficient this winter season.
Be Efficient
- Thermostat. As a home remodeling contractor, we know that a lot of homeowners tend to crank the heat in the colder months. Consider placing your thermostat at the lowest comfortable setting. Fluctuate the temperature at night when people generally like it cooler, and layer up with sweatshirts and sweatpants around the house.
- Filters. If heat isn’t coming through your vents like you think it should, check on the filters. Cleaning or replacing the filters in your furnace every three months is a good rule of thumb. This will often increase the furnace efficiency by at least 10%.
- Clear the Dust. Clear warm air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators of dust and debris. This will also include a process called “bleeding,” in which a homeowner bleeds the air out of hot water baseboards and radiators. If you’re not sure how to do this, call a professional to do it for you. Additionally, ensure optimal air flow by making sure heat sources are not blocked by curtains, furniture or carpeting.
- Ventilation Fans. While ventilation fans are great, use them wisely. Ventilation fans have a tendency to pull a ton of warm out of the home. This will often cause the furnace to work double time and cost a homeowner a ton of money.
- Close the Door. If there is a room in your home that is often unoccupied or unused, close the door. Closing the door will keep the home from heating unnecessary space and ultimately help save on the heating bill.
- Insulation in Windows. After all this, if you are finding that cold air is still leaking in from the outdoors and the gas bill is still high, consider installing double pane windows. Double pane windows have air trapped between the panes, which ultimately slows down the transfer of hot air to the outdoors. unfortunately new windows can get expensive. If windows are not in your budget, consider covering them with plastic or caulking around the cracks to ensure your weather strips are working as should.
It’s important to stay warm in the frigid winters of Western PA. While this often means a more expensive heating bill, it doesn’t have to. With some of our best general contractor tips on staying warm this winter, there is no doubt you’ll stay warm for a price you can afford. And when it comes time for larger remodeling and renovating, call a contracting company you can trust. Call a general contractor that has been serving its neighbors in the Johnstown PA, Latrobe PA, and Altoona PA area for over 34 years. Call Mihalko’s General Contracting for your home remodeling needs.
