This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate policy.
Last Updated on December 8, 2023
Fall is just beginning, which means soon the cooler temperatures will start settling in and it’ll be time to bundle up. If you love fall, you’ve probably been waiting for the chance to start setting up your home for many people’s favorite season of the year. Unfortunately, heating your home starting in the fall seasons can cause a spike to your energy bill, making your utilities more expensive than you’re used to. Instead of cranking up the thermostat and running up the electric bill, consider these long-term and short-term fixes for the season’s temperature changes to keep your home cozy.
Long-Term Home Improvements
If you find that your electricity bill climbs through the roof every year around the colder seasons, it might be time for some larger changes to your home that will pay off later in energy savings. For these fixes, you’ll want to look at the main structure of your home. May components can be switched out to increase the heating and cooling efficiency in your home as long as you’re willing to renovate. The first place you should check is your windows, particularly if you live in an older home. Windows that are drafty and let air escape can increase your energy bills by 10 to 25%. If your home has older windows or you notice issues with one window in particular, look for some newer energy-efficient replacements.
If fixing your windows still doesn’t help the problem, it might be time for an even more significant fix. Adding extra insulation can only help so much when the construction materials used in your home aren’t up to the task of keeping your home warm. Sometimes, it may be worth replacing the entire roof. A metal roof can easily help save as much as 25% off of your annual home energy bill, depending on what material your roof is currently made of. Do some research into your home’s construction and see what materials it might be time to replace.
Quick Fixes For Cool Falls
Is your home normally comfortable, but sometimes a bit chilly when a cold front hits? There’s no need to completely renovate your home in these situations, but there are a few tricks you can use to avoid cranking the thermostat and increasing your energy bill. First, check what you’re wearing as fall gets underway. Most people are accustomed to wearing certain clothing items, like t-shirts, year-round. T-shirts had been worn for over two decades before the word was officially added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, making them a 117-year-old garment. However, despite its simplicity and convenience, a tee might not always be the best choice for the weather. Try bundling up in warmer clothes before you reach for the thermostat – you’ll be just as cozy without increasing your energy costs.
Some homes are better equipped for fall and cold weather than others, and it’s important to take full advantage of whatever extras your home has. If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, it’s time to get it ready to use over the fall and winter. Just be sure to clean it and have it inspected, since fireplaces can impact the air quality in your home. Atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5% or above 23.5% are dangerous or even fatal, so make sure your fireplace is in full working condition before you fire it up this year.
Fall is finally on the horizon, and with cool weather comes the need to prep your home for getting cozy. Make use of these fixes and get creative with other methods to stay warm in the upcoming cooler seasons.
