As fall sets in and the days cool off, heating costs become top of mind for many Nova Scotians. With the Province’s furnace oil prices averaging two to five cents a litre higher than the national rate, and the highest electricity costs across all provinces—preparing your home and wallet for winter takes intentional planning. Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered.

Quick fixes

When it comes to preserving money and heat, small changes can add up to big savings. First, learn to utilize the measures you already have in place.

• Close the curtains or blinds overnight to help keep heat in; open them during the day for free passive solar heating.

• If you have a wood-burning fireplace, remember to close the flue when not in use to keep the heat in your home.

• Close off unused rooms. Shutting doors means you'll only heat the rooms you use most often. Also, close vents in unused rooms.

• Heat the basement, even if you don't go down there often. A cold basement will make the first floor of your house feel cold.

Winterization

Another impactful action, and a task everyone should add to their annual fall to-do list is the winterization of your home. This refers to both interior and exterior maintenance that works to prevent winter damage and ensure your home stays warm and comfortable all season long.

• Check your house for drafts and install weather stripping where needed. If your windows are older, you can apply clear plastic sheeting over windows in as many rooms as you can.

• Apply caulking around your windows and doors to any gaps and cracks wider than the width of a nickel to ensure your home is well sealed.

• Inspect your roof and repair any loose shingles. Use roof repair glue to prevent any leaks or damage. While you’re up there, make sure your gutters are clear of leaves and branches!

• Ensure all exterior faucets are turned off to prevent pipe bursts. Frost-proof faucets are a good option for homes 10 years or older.

Efficiency upgrades

While it is important to prepare your home for the cold weather, the preventative measures listed above may run short if the efficiency of your home’s insulation and heating methods are in question. Here are some tips to address this important element.

• Determine if your home is insulated well enough to retain heat. While in some cases it may be evident when there’s a need for added or improved insulation, one sure sign is whether your roof holds snow. If the snow melts quickly, it means too much heat from your home may be escaping from your roof.

• If insulation isn’t an issue, but you’re still feeling chilly, your HVAC may require maintenance. An expert will clean all coils, drains, and elements, inspect functionality and test safety controls to ensure your system is working to its full capability.

• Another way to ensure your home is being heated efficiently is by installing a smart thermostat. These handy devices optimize temperature settings based on your heating and cooling preferences, the outdoor climate, time of day and more. They can also be controlled from your mobile device, so you can turn the heat up on your way home or change your heating schedule when you’re gone for a longer period of time.

• If your heating source is not able to keep up with the needs of your home and family, it may be time to consider whether replacement is required. Heat pumps are a common choice when upgrading heating (and cooling) systems as they are 2.5 times more efficient than oil and gas furnaces, and 2 times more efficient than electric furnaces or baseboards.

Keeping your home and family safe and warm during the winter is important, and while upgrades like new heat pump installation can be costly, CUA can help. We work directly with home and business owners who require financing up to $50,000 to complete energy efficiency upgrades including heat pumps, LED lighting solutions, solar panels, windows, insulation, or other work required to maximize the impact of the upgrade.

Not sure where to start? Consider connecting with Efficiency Nova Scotia for a Home Energy Assessment. If you’re currently heating your home with oil and your household income qualifies as median or below, after taxes, this service could be free! They can also provide you with more helpful home heating tips and guidelines, as well as information about product and system rebates, incentives and financing.

You can also find more resources and a list of Green Partners on our website, to help you make the right selection for next energy efficiency project. Connect with a member of the CUA team for more information and to get started.