Easy Tips to Save Energy and Stay Comfortable in Winter
$600-$1300
That’s how much the average US household spent on heating in 2024-2025.*
Those of us who live in the north, Minnesota and Wisconsin where Aquarius Home Services operates, know that these costs are MUCH higher in our cold climate.
Worse yet, nobody expects this number to go down any time soon.
These are the easiest ways that you can push your heating cost down, as well as stay cozy, from the HVAC pros at Aquarius Home Services.
1. Use Door Socks or Towels
Every bit of heat that is lost from your home has to be replaced by your furnace. That uses energy, which costs you money. One of the biggest heat drains you will see in a home is a door jamb. By employing a door sock or towel to cover this exit point for warm air, you can significantly slow down the rate of heat loss in cold weather.
Infrared images clearly show where heat is escaping at the base of the door. Just simply laying a towel here can make a big difference!
2. Weather Strip your Doors
Door socks are great for the gap at the bottom of your door, especially for temporary use on especially cold days, but they can be unweildy and there are three more sides to pay attention to. Weather stripping is easy to install, costs very little, and treats some of the most significant sources for air leakage in your home.
If your weather stripping looks like the example below, it’s time to take action. Visit a hardware store and you will find plenty of options that can be installed quickly and cheaply.
3. Film Seal Your Windows
Windows are a huge energy drain in your home. Glass is a poor insulator compared to your walls, and they also have lots of seals, edges and framing that can develop leaks and drafts that let heat escape from your home. The objective with film sealing windows is two-fold:
1. To create an air barrier between the warm inner envelope of the house and the window that lets heat through it, and
2. To seal drafty gaps that have developed in the framing around the window.
Applying window film depends on where the drafts are and what your window coverings are. Covering the entire window frame is ideal, to seal all drafts, but sometimes window coverings and blinds won’t allow for this.
Window insulation kits are common at hardware stores and cost very little. They can be tricky to apply, and all windows/ window coverings are different, but the savings are well worth the effort!
4. Maximize Solar Gains
If you’ve ever seen a cat lying in a sunspot in winter, then you understand the concept of solar gain. Reduce the workload on your heating system by taking advantage of free heat from the sun. If you have south or west facing windows, make sure the blinds or curtains are open on sunny days to let the sunshine in. You will be surprised by how much of an impact it can make. Pay attention on a sunny day and notice how little your heating system turns on.
5. Close Window Coverings at Night
Just the opposite of solar gains, closing window coverings at night can keep heat in by creating an air pocket against your windows. This prevents the warm inside air from contacting the cold window and cooling down, which would lower your indoor temperature and cause your heating system to work to stabilize.
Call the HVAC Pros at Aquarius Home Services
If you’re having trouble keeping your home warm, it’s time to have a comfort specialist from Aquarius Home Services assess your home. You can book an appointment below:
*https://www.cbsnews.com/news/home-heating-cost-winter-winter-electric-bill-2025/
