Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Make Your Boston Home Energy Efficient This Winter



Winter in Boston, MA is here to stay for several more months. While the winter season is celebrated for the holidays and cozy nights with hot chocolate curled up by the fire, this blustery season also brings along with it higher heating costs. Following these simple steps will help to ensure your Boston, MA home is as energy efficient as possible.

Turn it down. One of the most obvious ways to keep heating costs down is to turn down your thermostat, especially when you aren't home, are on vacation, or are sleeping. While sleeping or at work keep your thermostat below 65 degrees. You will get a better night's sleep and might even lose a little weight as your metabolism works harder to keep you warm. If you leave town for a few days you can safely set your thermostat as low as 55 degrees without your pipes freezing. You can save approximately 1 percent on your energy bill for every degree you lower your thermostat.

Vents. Make sure to keep your vents clear and if possible not blocked by furniture or rugs. This will keep your furnace from working overtime. If you must cover a vent with furniture you can buy plastic covers to help direct the air out from under the furniture. If you have rooms you don't use close the vents and shut the door, only heat the rooms you inhabit.

Fireplace. When not using your fireplace be sure to keep the damper closed. All of the heat being sucked out the damper can add up to hundreds of dollars in energy costs each winter.

Drafty Windows and Doors. You can check for drafts in your Boston, MA home by holding a candle near the frame to the door or window and watching to see if it flickers. Use rubber weather-stripping for large areas and use caulk for smaller areas to seal up any leaks. Underneath your doors a rolled-up towel or draft snake will help keep the cold air outside.

Get Cozy. It's as simple as lowering the thermostat and putting on some more layers. A sweater and some cozy wool socks will keep you nice and toasty this winter season.

I hope you enjoy this winter season and can take advantage of some of these tips for your home. Should you decide you want to replace your drafty home with a more energy efficient model I'd love to help you find a new home in Boston, MA. Please contact a Boston, MA real estate agent when you are ready to start the process.


Lucas Garofalo
Keller Williams Realty
(617) 861-3631
Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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