Around this time in southern California, the winter season has certainly arrived and is here to cool us down for at least a couple more months. For most of us who are used to sunshine and 75 ° weather, this chill might seem a bit out of the ordinary and unwanted. Staying warm this winter doesn’t need to mean that you spend a fortune on heating bills. If you’ve noticed an uptick in your energy bills and feel that keeping your home warm and cozy is costing too much, there are a few things you can do to significantly reduce the energy you might be wasting.

How To Reduce Your Heating Bills This Winter

There are many problems around a house that may contribute to the rising cost of staying warm during the colder months of the year. Knowing what changes to make and what problems to look for can make all the difference in how much money you spend on your heating bills. Here are some tips you should consider to keep your home warmer this winter season:

• Replace Worm Weatherstripping on Doors and Windows – Worn and torn weatherstripping around doors and windows creates drafts and lets in cold air. With 7 – 12 percent of a home’s heat loss occurring around windows and doors, it is important to apply weatherstripping around doors, and caulking around doors and windows to cut down on drafts.
• Adjust Door Thresholds – If you can see daylight under your front door, then you’re losing the indoor air you’ve paid to heat. If possible, adjust the height of the door threshold to eliminate any gap.
• Utilize Curtains at Night – Close your curtains and shades and of course any windows at night to protect against cold drafts.
• Close Storm Windows and Doors – Storm windows installed over primary windows are almost as good as double-pane windows for reducing heat loss, but they only work if they are kept closed. Be sure all your storm windows are properly closed when cold weather arrives.
• Let Sunshine in Through South-Facing Windows – Open curtains and drapes on the south side of your home during winter days. Since the suns angles are lower in winter, this will allow substantial solar heating through all south windows. You may also want to trim vegetation that shades south windows.
• Seal Open Drafts – Seal any and all unwanted openings around your home. Our homes have many places that are open to the outside. Without proper maintenance and care these openings become a prime place for unwanted air exchange. Check all the locations around your home that open up to the outdoors, including the chimney, ventilation, utility entrances (cable, electrical, water etc.), interior and exterior outlets, interior and exterior light fixtures, plumbing access, and basement doors, wall cracks or crevices, just to name a few.

Other Cold Weather Window Tips

Here are some more cold weather tips for your home windows from the U.S. Department of Energy:

• Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames to reduce drafts.
• Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
• Install exterior or interior storm windows, which can reduce heat loss through the windows by approximately 10%-20%, depending on the type of window already installed in the home. They should have weatherstripping at all movable joints; be made of strong, durable materials; and have interlocking or overlapping joints.
• Repair and weatherize your current storm windows, if necessary.

See more cold weather window tips at Energy.gov.

Keeping your home warm and your heating bill this winter down isn’t impossible. It just takes time, attention and a little maintenance to your home. Take the time to consider these winter tips and let them assist you so that you can go out and enjoy the winter without worrying about your heating bills. If you have any questions or need any assistance with your windows during winter, please contact Frontline Windows & More, Inc. at our 24-hour call center (877)-367-1054.