Every winter, your energy costs spike. You'd like to pay less, but you don't want to turn off the heat just to save yourself a few dollars.
The good news is that you can trim those energy costs without turning your entire house into a refrigerator. Take a look at the simple home improvements that are guaranteed to shrink your bills during the coldest time of the year.
The Struggle to Pay Energy Bills:
You're not the only one who wishes they could pay less for their energy bills. The Energy Information Administration reported that a third of Americans have struggled to pay their energy bills at some point. Some have even had to debate between covering a bill and paying for a necessity like food or medicine. That's a terrible situation to be in.
If you're ever afraid that you can't cover a bill, you should consider applying for an online personal line of credit. It could be an effective back-up plan if that emergency situation comes up. Or you could use it to cover the costs of small home improvements before the winter arrives and then make the repayments over time. Take a look at the differences between a line of credit vs credit card to see if this is the right borrowing option for you at this time.
You don't have to worry as much about your bills when you know they won't cost you an arm and a leg. All you have to do is make these home improvements before winter arrives:
Add More Insulation
One of the best ways to get energy savings is to improve your home's insulation, especially in vulnerable areas like your attic, basement, crawlspace and attached garage. Insulation will make every floor of your home more comfortable and cut down heating costs. If you add it to your attic and garage roof, you can also prevent expensive problems like ice dams and leaks during the winter - yet another way that this change can save you money.
Caulk Your Windows
Insulation will stop most air leaks from getting through your walls. But the cold winter air can still find some vulnerable spots to slip through. To keep the frigid air out, you should caulk your windows to seal out any drafts that could ruin your indoor temperature and force you to crank up the heat.
Weatherstrip Your Doors
After your windows, you should tackle your exterior doors - these can also let in the cold outdoor air. Add weatherstripping along the edges and door sweeps on the bottom to block out air drafts. This is an easy and extremely affordable home improvement that you can do all on your own.
Change Your Filter
When you don't change out your furnace filter, your furnace works overtime. It uses up a lot more energy than it needs to. By cleaning out the filter or replacing it with a new one, you can lower your bills and make sure your furnace is running smoothly. Now, you can save money and stay warm.
Energy costs don't have to be a burden this winter. Follow these simple home improvements to make a difference. Soon enough, you'll see that those dreaded bills are smaller than they've ever been.
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