Home winterization tips to save energy

With colder temperatures on the way, it’s about that time to winterize your home if you haven’t done so already.

"In the winter, your heating system uses most of your energy so that's the thing you want to pay attention to, at least right now," said Dan Olmstead with Idaho Power.

This includes the air heater.

"Particularly change your filter. That seems to be one that people can save energy with," Olmstead suggested.

He told KMVT that water heaters take up the second most amount of energy during the cold season.

"We recommend 120 degrees on your water heater at the tap and you can check that with a thermostat," he said.

Making sure your pipes are not leaking — especially for hot water — should be something on your checklist.

"It doesn't take much of a continuous drip to make that water heater run all of the time, thus using more energy," he added.

To save on using too much heat, lowering your thermostat at night would help.

"If you have a heat pump, no more than two to three degrees," he said. "For those that don't have a heat pump, you can lower your thermostat five or six (degrees). You can take it down to 68 degrees or so. If it's a sunny day outside, open up those drapes and blinds and let the sun come in. That will certainly save on your heating system."

He suggests you avoid depending on a space heater as your primary source of heating.

"Space heaters are good for a smaller area, but they do use a lot of energy," he said. "There's also the safety factor. Certainly, you have to be a little more careful where you use those space heaters."

Also, do a run through and make sure insulation levels, caulking and weather stripping is up to par.

"Check all the windows and doors. Look for all the places where there might be air. Visibly you can see where there might be a gap. Make sure those are sealed up," he continued.

More safety tips can be found

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