Some of the best 10 Tips for Saving Money and Energy this Winter in Kansas City October 29, 2018 We here at Euston Hardware are searching for ways to help keep you pleasant in your home this winter. Look at the following tips every homeowner can use to keep warm, save energy during winter. #10 ENERGY STAR Windows and Doors can Help You Save Money Many of us know of ENERGY STAR appliances. But, did you know that ENERGY STAR has a variety of rated windows and doors? ENERGY STAR is all about Energy solutions. The method that a product is built becomes ENERGY STAR compliant by passing a series of specific requirements to ensure you keep the warm in and the cold out during the colder seasons. Ask a Euston Hardware rep about the best way you can improve your home with a new window and/or door. #9 Smart Tip: Unplug Everything when not in Use Unplugging may not sound like a big deal but directly unplugging your computers, TV’s, radios, or certain appliances will help you save tons of money and/or energy while it’s cold outside. As they are currently designed, devices and small electronics; such as scanners, TV’s, electric ranges, and even desktop computers or laptops, can dry out your funds while not even powered on. What we might suggest is a couple of surge protecting power strips to help make unplugging electronics like there is nothing to it and to help preserve your equipment just in case of an electrical surge. #8 Spruce Up with Energy Efficient Cloth Drapes You should be pleased to know that the window treatment you’ve been looking at can actually help you save money. Whether its curtains, or even shutters, the proper décor, will help to better temperature control your home. Curtains can help to insulate the area between your house and the outdoors, while a wonderful set of shades can alleviate and keep out sunlight in the hot days cooling your home. Shutters are also a great accessory, as they help to prevent wind, rain, and snow from pounding your residence in even the most severe weather. #7 Use LED substitutes however you canCold weather is coming soon, it is likely that you will see a sharp steep rise in your electric bills. Stop this by changing out primitive bulbs with more productive LED light bulbs. LEDs now come in a range of sizes and shapes; helping you to fit them into nearly any home. LEDs can help you save up to 80% of the energy wasted by traditional incandescent light bulbs. Swing by Euston Hardware in Kansas City for further information or for the possibility to pick up holiday essentials. #6 Adjust and Insulate your Water Heater For large numbers of us, winter is the chance for time off. Whatever the cause for your time away from home keep in mind to lower the setting on your water heater to its lowest setting or “vacation mode” when you’re out. sometimes, our homes’ water heater may not be in the most convenient of locations. In these few cases it is ideal that exposed water lines are adequately insulated. We provide products to help you get the DIY project done. #5 Smart Tip: Leave Exposed Plumbing Open to Warm Air In more frozen temperatures, it is important to not skip the little things. Most importantly your plumbing. Cooler climate areas are susceptible to freeze, break, or erupt indoor plumbing pipes when temperatures drop below freezing. This is common mostly in kitchens and bathrooms. A sharp homeowner knows to leave cabinetry open. This will allow for warmer air to prevent the pipes from freezing over when not in use. This can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on repairs and replacements. #4 Space heaters will be your friend It sometimes is unusual to have space heaters in a present-day home. However, there are numerous benefits to getting and keeping a few space heaters handy. In cases of emergency, a propane heater will do the trick to help heat inaccessible parts of your house. If it doesn't come down to that, compact electric space heaters can help drop the cost of your electric and/or gas bill. This is do to only heating the rooms of the home you are using. It is sometimes suggested that you set your houses’s thermostat to 62-70 degrees, but each room in use can sit at a very comfortable 75-80 degrees in the worst winter has to offer. #3 Exchange out Your Thermostat for a Smart Thermostat One element we tend to look over is that old-fashioned thermostat. It’s old and analog and doesn't do a great job of indicating your home’s true temperature. Want to upgrade yet? Smart thermostats give the functionality for you to interact with your home’s climate system from a smartphone, set schedules, and detect trends in your usage and needs. Sometimes a more modern thermostat can help to better regulate temperatures by giving an accurate account for energy efficiency and current temperature. old analog thermostats suffer from being exhausted or having antiquated functions. Updating your thermostat could even save you enough money to pay for itself. #2 Install New Insulation It is really not a hidden puzzle that insulation functions well to keep your residence temperate in the winter months and cool in the hot days. But did you know that many houses go through inadequate insulation solutions? If your home is antique, it may be time to update its insulation. Starting in places like the basement,attic, or garage, could help better regulate the areas where your house is unsuccessful in keeping the heat. If you are disturbed about your home’s insulation, come by Euston Hardware and we’ll be glad to answer questions. #1 Patching the Holes]1000] Don’t underestimate the potential of a proper sealing. Not only do houses need to be properly caulked, but sealing your windows can help you escape leaky areas in your home. Euston Hardware offers awesome sealing solutions that we can stand by. We have starter kits that can help you save money year-round. Energy Star estimates that residences that have proper sealing can save almost 20% on cooling and heating costs. This turns into more money for you to keep you feeling even warmer in the colder months. For more tips on how you can save more, talk to Euston Hardware in Kansas City. Electrical, Lighting, Plumbing, Smart Home Back To Tips & News