With the gradual change from summer to fall, there comes a need to make some adjustments at home to adapt to the new season. For many homeowners, this may present an interesting challenge as factors like temperature and duration of daylight require minor lifestyle modifications. While these alterations are meant to ensure us continued comfort within our homes, they can also have some other effects, namely on the amount we pay each month for bills. Thankfully, fall does not have to mean increased spending and there are a number of ways to prevent autumn from costing us unnecessarily. As the leaves start to change and pumpkins start popping up on stoops, consider these fall money saving tips for your home.
Early Evening Chores
As the temperature begins to go down, the usual response to the cold is turning on the heat. While we may consider the warmth it provides worth the cost it incurs, there are other ways to heat things up. One of the easiest methods for doing so simply involves changing the hours in which you do your chores. Large appliances like the dishwasher, washer, and dryer all require a substantial amount of energy to be operated and can contribute to a high bill. At the same time, they create heat energy that is dispersed within homes, warming them up. Simply operating those machines in the evening as the temperatures cool off will supply your home with heat while still allowing you to do your housework.
Leak Inspection
Whether caused by the force of weather or just gradual decay over time, leaks can appear around our windows and throughout our homes. As a result, the cost of heating and cooling increases quickly as unwanted air leaks into our homes and not only forces us to adjust the temperature, but also requires more energy to increase or decrease it. The first part of remedying this situation is identifying leaks and then ultimately sealing them. In order to locate leaks in your home you can hire a professional or simply search yourself by closing your windows and doors, turning off the exhaust fans in your home and powering down your HVAC system. From there you will be able to light a stick of incense and hold it to your doors and windows. If the smoke moves, then put a marker by the area and seal it up.
Start Saving for Winter Holidays
One of the more notable things about fall is that it acts as a precursor to winter and the various holidays within it. During that time, many people will begin saving to purchase gifts for loved ones. With that in mind, it is important to begin saving up for that in the fall. There are two reasons for this, the first being that getting ahead of the curve will reduce the stress of the holidays and can allow you to save by taking advantage of competitive deals. The second is that by prioritizing saving, you’ll naturally be more sensitive to the amount you spend. Whether while you are out shopping or after receiving your utility bills, having a purpose allows us to more easily make the changes we need in order to achieve our aims.
Keep Things A Bit Cooler
Though it may seem counterintuitive to let your home remain a bit cooler during the colder months, it does present an opportunity to save during the stretch. Managing with a home that is just a few degrees lower will pay off as it will reduce the cost of your heat during the fall. To compensate for the lower temperature without spending any money, consider wearing an extra layer to keep yourself warm. Another way to bring in some heat is to open up the blinds around your home during the day. As the sun rises, it will allow heat to enter your home and make the lower temperature unnoticeable.
Prepare for the winter cold
Preparing for the winter in the fall presents a useful means for saving money during both seasons and will make surviving the cold more manageable as well. The reason for that is fall enables us to make sure the devices responsible for heating the home are working optimally, which lends to less energy consumption. For those with a chimney, having a sweep come during the fall will likely reduce the price normally charged during the winter. Because it should be done on an annual basis, you will knock out one to-do for the year while certifying your chimney will be in working condition come winter. Similarly, having your home furnace inspected in the fall each year will keep your home warm while possibly coming at a lower price.
