Last winter, my energy costs had a significant impact on the condo budget.
Despite an Energy Star rated heater, I was not cheerful with the cost of heating.
I started learning up on ways to minimize demands on the heating system. As per recommendations, I started replacing the air filter every six weeks. I caulked around the windows and weatherstripped the exterior doors. I set aside a weekend, dislinked the aged insulation from the attic and installed new. I purchased insulated curtains for the windows. I open the curtains to welcome in sun to help warm up the home while in the morning and close them against the chilly at evening! None of my efforts seemed to make much of a difference. I then climbed up on a ladder to see if the heated air was rising upward and getting trapped near the ceiling. I noticed a significant increase in temperature with every step up the ladder… Sitting on the couch, I felt slightly chilled. Standing at the top of the ladder, I started to sweat. I needed to figure out a way to respectfully distribute the heat. I googled and found ceiling fans. There are a wide variety of sizes, prices and styles of ceiling fans. Some include LED lights, dimmer switches, remote controls and multiple speeds. My spouse and I were able to handle the upgrade of the ceiling fans ourselves. The fans not only add to aesthetics and provide light but help to push the heat down toward the floor. I’ve been able to lower the thermostat setting and yet the home feels more comfortable. Now that the outside weather has warmed up, I’ve reversed the direction of the fans. They now create a cooling effect and lessen the workload of the air conditioner.