Energy savings for winter

[fly boy]

Since winter is finally going to show up, I figured I would put myself in check about saving on heating bills. I was reading an article and was curious what everyone on here does for a DIY or smart idea for saving a couple pennies over the winter.

article: http://www.iflscience.com/editors-bl...is-winter/all/




My personal thing is: keep thermostat lower, make the wife and kids put on slippers and have couch blankets. Kids like the fun slippers and wife likes having the blanket when on the couch watching TV. We also tend to simmer a pot of water. Brings the humidity up and warms the house a bit more when we are cooking dinner.

[Wulf202]

Unplug your dryer vent. Build a lint trap and enjoy the humidity and heat you're already paying for. Electric only.

Change your air filter

Clean the coils on your fridge. Not for winter but for energy efficiency

Use blinds and curtains. Open curtains for solar gain and shut them when it gets dark

[fly boy]

Unplug your dryer vent. Build a lint trap and enjoy the humidity and heat you're already paying for. Electric only.

Change your air filter

Clean the coils on your fridge. Not for winter but for energy efficiency

Use blinds and curtains. Open curtains for solar gain and shut them when it gets dark

Might have to try the dryer vent this year, too bad it's on the top floor so no full house gains.

Air filter is changed every other month with 3m filters

Good thinking of the Fridge.... grabbing the shop vac now.

[SouthPaw]

Unplug your dryer vent. Build a lint trap and enjoy the humidity and heat you're already paying for. Electric only.

Great idea, thanks.

[TRnCO]

All good ideas above. The one thing not everyone is fortunate to have the option of but I do, is wood burning stove. Love my wood burning stove.

[Wulf202]

Diy lint trap. Install a 4" start collar in the lid of a bucket. Swiss cheese the lid with a drill bit. Add some water to the bucket and install the lid.

My next house will have a wood burning stove

[StagLefty]

Have had one of these type for 27 years in my mobile home:http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Great-Kazoo]

Since winter is finally going to show up, I figured I would put myself in check about saving on heating bills. I was reading an article and was curious what everyone on here does for a DIY or smart idea for saving a couple pennies over the winter.

article: http://www.iflscience.com/editors-bl...is-winter/all/




My personal thing is: keep thermostat lower, make the wife and kids put on slippers and have couch blankets. Kids like the fun slippers and wife likes having the blanket when on the couch watching TV. We also tend to simmer a pot of water. Brings the humidity up and warms the house a bit more when we are cooking dinner.

We have a whole house humidifier. Door draft blockers, you can buy or make one. We use beach towels with rubber bands.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...Z7CCWFYVZG1PKD


Add insulation in the attic, caulk around vents such as your sewer & heating ones around exit areas, longer drapes, Ceiling fans make a difference. Double check outside & in caulking around windows.
We had an energy audit then upgrades done. One area overlooked are bathroom exhaust fans. This unit , you have to leave the light on to remind you the fan's running.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Panasonic...QCL6/204361845


These go over the windows in the west facing rooms.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...ductId=1287694

If you have a foundation, plastic (for radon) then insulation batts. It's not cheap or one of those Hey let's do it this week type things. Everything took time but paid off. The biggest item was replacing the furnace with a 2 stage that you can keep the fan on, without air or heat running.
Of course if you , the kids or spouse insist on having the house @ 66 or higher you don't gain anything.

[Ramsker]

For cleaning the fridge coils . . . I ran across this and it works like a charm. Bought a cheap box fan and filter at Wally World. Sucks the crap right onto the filter without blowing all over.

[Wulf202]

For cleaning coils just get a wire dog brush for $2 from wal mart