Illinois Winters: Mitigate Soaring Energy Bills During the Cold Months

Every year, Illinois winters contribute to soaring energy bills for local residents. From December to mid-March, the winter months often require homeowners relying more on their heating components to stay warm.

But a little preparation goes a long way. Despite the whiplash temperatures, homeowners and commercial property owners can implement best practices to mitigate their energy bills. Naturally, these don’t just serve 2023, they can be seamlessly reapplied for the decades to follow.

Consistently Change Your Air Filters During Illinois Winters

While this first guideline applies year-round, changing the air filter tremendously helps to lower energy bills during Illinois winters. Overall, dirty filters force your heating systems to work harder to get the job done. Thus, this extra effort can create a big increase in your bills.

By consistently changing out the home’s air filter, property owners gain the most value out of their ventilation. Generally, homeowners should change out their filter every one-two months, depending on its debris buildup.

Lower the Thermostat When You Are Asleep or Leaving the House

When you’re asleep or leaving the house, lowering the thermostat offers a well-needed break to the heating system during Illinois winters. Therefore, this reduces energy consumption. For those leaving for vacation, this best practice is especially beneficial.

Taking it one step further, homeowners who close off unused rooms successfully keep the heat where they need it. Also, consider closing vents to maintain temperatures in living spaces and other heavily occupied rooms.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fan Spin to Conserve Heat

While virtually everyone knows that ceiling fans cool the room, not everyone understands the significance of the ceiling fan spin direction. That said, reversing the spin direction conserves heat during Illinois winters.

Typically, ceiling fans pull hot air upward. With a reversed spin, ceiling fans pushed the hot air back down into the room after it rose and collected near the ceiling. As a matter of fact, this tactic allows for efficient air circulation, maintaining a steady temperature and lowering the energy needed to keep the home warm.

Prevent Window and Door Drafts During Illinois Winters

According to Energy.gov, homes lose 30% of their heat through windows. In residences, windows and doors commonly contribute to heat loss. During Illinois winters, check windows and doors for possible drafts.

Basically, a draft is any area of the material where you feel escaping heat. In the event of a draft, consider either replacing the seals or upgrading the windows and doors altogether. For homeowners who don’t have the option of purchasing new windows, placing heavy curtains in front also helps to reduce outward heat flow.

Install an Efficient Heating System for Illinois Winters to Come

For homeowners still facing soaring energy bills during Illinois winters after following these best practices, the next step involves reevaluating the heating system as a whole. Unfortunately, some systems do not operate nearly as efficiently as others. Furthermore, modern innovations tend to significantly drop annual energy costs. Notably, they also tend to generate a lower carbon footprint.

Aside from installing a new heating system, homeowners hold plenty of control over the fine details surrounding everyday heat conservation. Small efforts like consistently changing air filters, lowering the thermostat, and reversing ceiling fan directions add up over time. Additionally, adding barrier layers (like curtains in front of windows) helps to control air drafts.

To lower your energy bills in the Illinois winter months, contact the Des Plaines heating, ventilation, and air conditioning specialists at Stevensons Air Control.