Greenwood Plumbing & Heating

Servicing Rhode Island and Southern MA
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Tips & Tricks For Keeping The Heat In & The Cold Out

If you’re like most Rhode Islander’s, you probably dread the thought of colder temperatures starting. You rely on your heating system to get you through it, hoping that nothing goes wrong. Here are a few tips and tricks you should be using to keep yourself and your home warm without burning a hole in your wallet.

Sunlight is the Cheapest Form of Heat

Sunshine can bring in tons of warm energy for your home. Open the shades of your south-facing windows during the daylight hours. When the sun sets, close the shades so that your house keeps the heat from the daytime. It may not seem like you’re doing much, but it’s still an effective method for keeping your house warm and saving money while doing it.

Use Your Ceiling Fans and Keep Doors Closed

Did you know that most ceiling fans have a winter setting. This means that the fan spins counterclockwise rather than clockwise. In return, this keeps the rising hot air moving downward instead of being trapped up high in the ceilings.

Closing doors means there is less room for heat to escape. This is super helpful at night when you’re sleeping and want to keep your bedroom warm. If there are rooms you don’t frequently use, close the doors and the vents to allow more heat into other more occupied rooms.

Invest in a Programmable Thermostat

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that the winter months, keeping the temperature at 68 degrees if you’re home and awake, and when you’re away or asleep, lower it about 7 degrees to start to see an increase in savings. The closer your thermostat is to the outdoor temperature, the more you will save. Having a programmable thermostat will allow you to choose what hours you want the temperature at a certain degree, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to change it.