How to Make Your Old Home More Energy Efficient This Winter

Old homes can be chock-full of character, charm and enduring style. But unfortunately, they generally come up empty-handed when you consider energy efficiency. You may love the look and feel of your traditional or historic home, but appearances won’t keep you and your family warm during the cold winter months, and you certainly don’t love the size of your energy bill when it comes in the mail.

For homeowners looking to modernize outdated heating and cooling equipment, here are 5 ways you can maximize the energy efficiency of your older home.

1. Add insulation. Just as a majority of your body heat escapes through the top of our head, a home loses most of its energy through the ceiling and attic. You can put a cap on your home’s heat loss by insulating attic spaces, as well as wrapping insulation around your water heater. The best types of insulation out there are blow-in spray foam options, and many home improvement stores rent the equipment you will need, making it a fairly easy DIY weekend project.

2. Replace old windows and doors. If you have enough room in your budget, consider replacing all your home’s old windows and doors with new, energy efficient options. This will help seal air leaks and keep warm air inside, as well as maximize on solar rays. For homeowner who can’t afford this right away, add window stripping and caulk in the mean time.

3. Enact home heating zones. By coming up with a strategy to heat a home based on the time of day and usage, you can save a lot on your energy bill. For example, heat the downstairs of your old home during the day and the upstairs where the bedrooms are at night.

4. Invest in new appliances. If your appliances look as old as your home, it may be time to look into newer energy efficient models. Look for the Energy Star logo before you purchase an appliance. It may be a more costly investment, but it is much cheaper in the long run.

5. Take advantage of home heating automation. Your home may be aged, but that doesn’t mean it can’t enjoy some new technology, like programmable automatic thermostats. With automated home heating, you can lower your monthly energy bill without lowering your comfort level.

Get more valuable tips for heating and cooling your old or historic home by watching this video from PowerHouseTV:

If you’re ready to talk to Gagne heating technicians in metro-Atlanta about updating your home’s system, then call us today at (678) 221-4328 to schedule a free home evaluation. Or browse through our “All About AC” Knowledge Center to learn more about how you can save money on your energy bill.