If you’re like most home owners throughout the Birmingham area, “jumping for joy” isn’t usually what Heating Costs happens after you open your utility bills. The dead of winter and dog days of summer can be particularly harsh on your budget.
At the same time, you can do a lot to bring those costs down, even as much as 30%. How? By eliminating or at least reducing home heat loss.
First, let’s look at the most common exit points for home heat: 
- Dropped ceilings and recessed lighting
- Attics and attic entrances
- Window and door frames
- Sill plates
- Water and furnace flues
- Plumbing and utility access points
- Outlets and switches
- And chimneys and fireplaces
Heat can also be escaping through windows, doors, electrical outlets, and even a tin crack in the wall. To find out, light an incense stick or candle and hold it over each of those areas. If the smoke travels horizontally, you’ve successfully located an air leak.
And now from our “what you can do to prevent heat loss” department: sealing, caulking, and locking warm air in.
- Seal or caulk any cracks around windows and door frames, and add proper weather-stripping to all doors.
- Cover single pane windows with plastic and then add a second layer of insulation with heavy duty shades or drapes.
- Insulate walls that face outdoors.
- Check your attic insulation. As time goes on it gradually loses its ability to keep heat from rising right through the roof.
- Keep glass fireplace doors closed.
- Keep your shades and blinds open during the day to let the sun warm your home naturally. And then close them at night to keep the heat indoors.
At Eagle Service Company, we have ways of our own to help lower your heating costs. One of the best is our heating system tune-up and inspection service . It’s a multi-step process that allows us to improve your system’s operating efficiency. Annual system maintenance also leads to added home safety plus fewer and less costly repairs.
For a cozier winter indoors and lower utility bills, contact Eagle Service Company today.
