Winterize Your Home: A Homeowner’s Guide to Cold Weather Protection

a home covered in snow in Wisconsin, demonstrating the need to winterize your home

As temperatures drop and winter returns to Wisconsin this season, taking steps to winterize your home becomes crucial for protecting your property and family. At Hometown Heating, Air & Electric, we’ve seen how proper winter preparation can prevent costly repairs and ensure your comfort throughout the cold season.

In this blog post you’ll find a comprehensive guide to keeping your home warm and safe all winter long.

How To Stay Warm & Winterize Your Home This Season

Here are five easy steps to protect your home from the cold this season:

Start with Professional Furnace Maintenance

The foundation of efforts to winterize your home starts with your heating system. As Cedarburg’s top heating contractor, we recommend scheduling professional maintenance before winter hits full force. Our NATE-certified technicians thoroughly inspect your system, clean vital components, and identify potential issues before they become major problems. This simple step can save you from emergency repairs during the coldest days.

Smart Thermostat Strategies

Program your thermostat to lower temperatures when you’re sleeping or away from home. This not only reduces energy bills but also prevents unnecessary strain on your heating system. Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat that learns your schedule and adjusts automatically for optimal efficiency.

Optimize Your Home’s Airflow

Check all air vents throughout your home to ensure they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs, or curtains. Clean or replace air filters monthly during heavy-use winter months. These steps are essential when you winterize your home as they help maintain proper airflow and reduce your furnace’s workload.

Safety First: Fire and Carbon Monoxide Prevention

Install carbon monoxide detectors on every floor and test them monthly alongside smoke alarms. Keep flammable materials away from heating equipment and ensure proper ventilation around your furnace. Schedule professional cleaning of your chimney if you have a fireplace.

Take Additional Home Protection Measures

Want to go the extra mile in protecting your home this winter season? Here are a few additional home protection measures you can take:

  • Insulate exposed pipes to prevent freezing
  • Seal windows and doors to eliminate drafts
  • Check attic insulation levels
  • Clear gutters to prevent ice dams
  • Reverse ceiling fans to push warm air downward

Remember, when you winterize your home, you’re not just ensuring comfort—you’re protecting your investment and ensuring your family’s safety during Wisconsin’s challenging winter months.

For professional assistance with your winter preparation, contact us today for a thorough inspection and maintenance service.

Heating Emergency: How to Survive the Cold When Your Furnace Quits

couple bundling up in a heating emergency

As the frigid winds sweep through Wisconsin, the last thing you want is for your heating system to call it quits. A sudden loss of heat can be not only uncomfortable but also potentially dangerous, especially in the heart of winter. So, what do you do when your furnace decides to take an unscheduled vacation? Here’s a guide to help you navigate a heating emergency situation in the Badger State:

1. Check the Basics

Before panicking, ensure the basics are covered. Sometimes, the issue might be a simple fix.

  • Verify your thermostat is set correctly, the circuit breakers are not tripped, and the furnace switch is in the “on” position.
  • If all of those items are in the proper position, locate the emergency shut-off switch, typically located on the furnace itself. Ensure it’s turned on. If the switch is off, flipping it back on might resolve the problem.
  • Finally, for those who have older furnaces with a pilot light, check if it’s still burning. If it’s out, relight it following the manufacturer’s instructions. If the pilot light won’t stay lit, it might indicate a deeper issue that requires professional attention.

2. Contact the Professionals

In Wisconsin where winter can be harsh, it’s crucial to have a reliable heating professional on speed dial. At Hometown Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help you in a heating emergency. Keep our contact information close by, so if an emergency situation happens, you’re ready and can contact us right away. It’s worth having this information handy for unexpected situations.

How to Contact Hometown Heating, Air & Electric:

3. Utilize Temporary Heating Solutions

In an emergency, you need warmth, and fast. If your situation is dire, you may have to wait a short time for help to come your way. Consider these temporary heating solutions while you wait:

  • Blankets: While waiting for professional assistance, layer up in warm clothing and use blankets.
  • Fireplace: If you have a fireplace, now is the time to use it as it’s a quick way to bring heat into your home.
  • Oven: Bake something in your oven, and when finished, turn off your oven, but keep the door open to let in heat.
  • Space Heaters: If you have electric space heaters, use them to provide temporary warmth.
  • Sunshine: If it’s daytime and the sun is shining, open your blinds and curtains to let the sun in.
  • Towels: Seal drafts with weather stripping or towels to keep as much warmth inside as possible.

While these solutions can be helpful in a heating emergency, remember to follow safety guidelines and use these options only as temporary solutions.

4. Employ Preventative Maintenance to Avoid Another Heating Emergency

Once the emergency is resolved, schedule preventive maintenance for your heating system. Regular inspections and tune-ups can catch potential issues before they become emergencies. Maintaining your furnace won’t just help during emergencies — it will also help keep your bills down and extend the lifespan of your heating equipment.

Remember, when facing a heating emergency in Wisconsin, acting promptly and seeking professional help is key. Stay warm and safe during the winter months, and don’t let a heating hiccup put a freeze on your comfort.

If you have any questions or want to schedule a furnace tune-up, please contact us. Don’t just survive the cold — but beat it with Hometown Heating, Air & Electric.

Heat Smart, Spend Smart: 10 Ways To Save On Heating This Winter

woman sitting by the fire trying to save on heating this winter

Winter has a magical way of transforming our beautiful state into a snowy wonderland, but it can also turn your heating bill into a frosty nightmare. Fear not! Hometown Heating, Air & Electric is here to sprinkle some warmth and wisdom on how to keep your heating costs low without sacrificing comfort. So, let’s dive into the cozy world of energy efficiency and discover the secrets to save on your heating bill that won’t break the bank.

10 Ways to Save on Heating This Winter

Find out the secrets to a toasty home this winter:

1. Snuggle Up Your Home

No, we’re not suggesting you invest in an army of fluffy pets (although that sounds pretty tempting). Instead, make your home a snuggle sanctuary by sealing any drafts. Grab a tube of caulk and weatherstripping to plug gaps around windows and doors, preventing precious heat from escaping and cold drafts from sneaking in.

2. Embrace Your Smart Thermostat as a Warm Friend

Upgrade to a smart thermostat and let technology do the heavy lifting. These nifty devices learn your heating patterns and adjust the temperature accordingly. Program your thermostat to lower the heat when you’re away and crank it up before you return, ensuring comfort without wasting energy. Even lowering your thermostat by just a degree or two can make a world of difference in cost savings.

3. Let the Sun Shine In

Mother Nature provides a free and fabulous heating source – the sun! During the day, open curtains and blinds to let sunlight naturally warm your home. As the sun sets, close them to trap the heat and keep the winter chill at bay. While these ideas might seem obvious, it’s often the little things that can help you save on heating.

4. Bring Your Blankets into Your Living Spaces

Your blankets aren’t just for beds, so embrace the cozy vibes with blankets and bring them into your living spaces! Layer up with warm throws on couches and beds to create a snug atmosphere. When the temperature drops, reach for a blanket before adjusting the thermostat.

5. Mind Your Vents and Radiators

Don’t let furniture play hide-and-seek with your vents or radiators. Arrange your space so that heat can circulate freely. Move furniture away from these sources to ensure an unobstructed flow of warmth, making your heating system’s job a breeze.

6. Seize the Power of Layers to Save on Heating

While we understand that wearing layers are the key to staying warm, your home follows the same principle. Instead of cranking up the heat, throw on your favorite sweater or hoodie to stay warm and stylish inside.

7. Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up

Just like your car needs regular maintenance, so does your furnace. Schedule a tune-up with Hometown Heating, Air & Electric to ensure your heating system is running at peak efficiency. A well-maintained furnace not only keeps your bills down but also extends the lifespan of your heating equipment.

8. Become a Draft Detective

Put on your detective hat and hunt down drafts. Check for gaps around windows, doors, and even electrical outlets. Sealing these openings is a simple yet effective way to prevent cold air from sneaking in.

9. Don’t Get Warm Alone

Engage the whole family in the quest for a lower heating bill. Encourage everyone to wear warm clothes indoors, close doors to unoccupied rooms, and remind them to turn down the thermostat when heading out. Teamwork makes the (warmth) dream work!

10. Cozy Cooking Counts

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and cooking can generate heat. On colder days, consider baking or cooking heartier meals to help warm up your space. Bonus: you get delicious food as a reward!

Remember, keeping your home warm doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. With these creative and cost-effective tips, you’ll be sipping cocoa in a cozy home without worrying about your heating bill. Stay warm and wallet-wise this winter, courtesy of Hometown Heating, Air & Electric!

If you have any questions about any of these tips or want to schedule a furnace tune-up, please contact us. Let’s stay warm this winter.

Will a Smart Thermostat Really Save Me Money?

If you’re like most homeowners, you’re always looking for ways to help cut down on energy bills when the summertime rolls around. One of the best ways to do this is to install a smart thermostat. These are not only super convenient to operate, but they can drastically reduce your energy bills.

It Learns Your Behaviors

Probably the most convenient feature of a smart thermostat is that after you program in your initial settings, it gets to learn your behavior. Over time, as it observes your behavior, it will be able to determine what temperature you prefer at various times of the day. Then, your smart thermostat can automatically adjust your settings to have your home at the perfect temperature whenever you get home and even calibrate it to make adjustments for specific humidity levels.

When your smart thermostat knows your behaviors, it can recommend the most energy-efficient settings without you having to lift a finger to try to program those settings yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much you can reduce your energy bills by simply changing your settings to more energy-efficient options.

Convenient Remote Interfaces

Another major benefit the smart thermostats bring to the table is convenient remote interfaces. Most smart thermostats will have an area on the interface that allows you to estimate the cost of the energy that you’re currently using. It will even allow you to make manual adjustments to your settings to see how they affect the cost of your energy bill. This can allow you to ultimately set the ideal temperatures for your home to meet what you want your energy budget to be.

Eco-Mode

All smart thermostats come with an eco-mode setting. This comes on whenever you’re away from your home and prevents your thermostat from running unless your indoor temperature reaches dangerously high or low levels. This is convenient as it will help to prevent emergencies like frozen water pipes whenever you’re away from home without you having to turn your entire HVAC system off. Many smart thermostats even automatically switch to eco-mode whenever it senses that there is no one in your home. It typically does this via tracking on your smartphone.

It Factors in Local Weather

One truly amazing attribute of smart thermostats is that they will actually take your local weather into account when it comes to optimizing your heating and cooling schedules. Using defined weather algorithms, smart thermostats can help to optimize energy usage and minimize humidity levels to ensure that your home feels comfortable for your family.

Remote Sensor Options

Fairly newer features that are coming out with many new smart thermostats are additional sensors. The sensors are designed to detect the temperature as well as motion. They’re to be installed in various rooms throughout your home to help your thermostat receive more precise information.

When it comes to temperature, your thermostat can learn what the general temperature is around your home as compared to just what the temperature is where the thermostat is positioned. This can be especially helpful in homes where thermostats aren’t optimally placed. The thermostat sensors also help to detect motion which is utilized to turn your HVAC system on and off depending on whether or not someone’s home.

User Simplicity

A very important way that smart thermostats can help you save money on your energy bills is their user-friendliness. Many programmable thermostats can offer an abundance of energy savings similar to that of smart thermostats. However, they require you to actually sit down and update your settings. Most homeowners simply don’t sit down and do so.

Smart thermostats take all the hard work out of programming your heating and cooling systems. With a couple of swipes of your smartphone, you can easily choose to program your smart thermostat to be the most energy efficient for your home. It’s super easy to make adjustments to help save energy usage from your smartphone as compared to having to go back to your thermostat every single time. Since smart thermostats are more convenient to use, homeowners actually implement smart choices to save energy, like lowering the temperature in the wintertime when they’re not at home.

Expert HVAC Services

Hometown Heating, Air & Electric provides expert HVAC services for the entire Cedarburg, WI area. We’re also available for all of your indoor air quality and electrical service needs. Contact our office today to schedule your next service appointment.