Your heating unit plays the biggest role in keeping you warm and comfortable during the winter. So now is the time to prepare your heating unit for operation. It’s a good idea to have an HVAC technician perform maintenance on your heating unit. They’ll make sure everything is working properly and also make certain your unit is not introducing carbon monoxide into your home. They’ll also test it to make certain it will come on and produce heat the first time you require it. It’s better to know that now than on the same day 100 other people discover that their heating units aren’t working and request a service call.

In addition to having your heating unit checked over, there are a number of other things you can do to help keep your home warm and save money this winter.

1. Install a new filter for your heating unit.
2. Check all doors and windows for leaks and repair with caulk or weather stripping.
3. Install storm windows or window plastic.
4. Install thermal curtains.
5. Remove and store window air-conditioners.
6. Install gaskets on all electric outlets on outside walls.
7. Wrap water pipes in unheated spaces.
8. Close foundation vents.
9. Make certain outside dryer vent seals properly.
10. Install a programmable thermostat and program it to lower the house temperature at night and when the house is empty.
11. Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
12. Using low speed, set ceiling fans to blow hot air down.
13. Make sure attic access door is sealed and insulated.
14. Install diverters on floor registers to direct heated air towards the inside of the room.
15. Keep fireplace dampers closed when not in use.
16. Add extra ceiling insulation in your attic.
17. Dress warmly but comfortably.

If you’d like to have a home energy efficiency audit performed on your home, HES and TVA are now offering a variety of solutions.  Home energy efficiency audits can be performed as a DIY project, or virtually using your mobile phone or tablet with a TVA energy efficiency expert guiding you through your home, or by scheduling an in-person audit with a TVA energy efficiency expert. All of these audit types will provide you with a list of improvements you can make to your home to reduce your energy consumption and save money. To learn more about each type of audit, and to get started, click here.