Keeping Your PDX Home Warm This Winter… Without Breaking the Bank

Saving With Sweaters!

Winter is coming to Portland. You may have noticed the chill in the air. You may have had to scrape ice off your windshield already. And, while we don’t have the worst winters here in the Pacific Northwest, no one really enjoys paying for heat, especially if those heat bills are massive. But many people grumble, fill out the check, and figure they’ll worry about it next year.

There are ways to save on your heating bill in Portland – many ways that we will share with you in this post, in fact. And many of these techniques don’t require professional assistance (though some may) to realize almost immediate savings.

Seriously, Sweaters

Seriously, dropping the thermostat by two to five degrees can save you serious money and only requires that you bundle up and dress “appropriately” for the season. A couple of sweaters, a pair of good slippers, and a throw blanket for the couch will set you back as little as a hundred bucks, and a hundred bucks worth of savings might be realized on your heating bills before we even get to the end of the year.

Divide and Conquer

Are you paying to heat rooms that you’re not using? Stop it. It’s wasteful and an unnecessary expense. Also, check to make sure that you don’t have open vents in odd places like the basement or the garage. For bonus points, invest in decorative door accessories that block the flow of cold air under interior doors. You may want to keep vents in seldom-used rooms open just a little to help stave off any mold or mildew growth (we are living in a rain forest here).

Weatherize Me!

If you’re living in a newer home, this may not be an issue you can really address. But most older homes can and will benefit from some type of weatherization. Weather it’s blown-in insulation, replacing single pane windows with newer models, or sealing existing exterior doors with new gaskets, each weatherization project you take on will save you money incrementally.

Plus there are incentives and resources available for those willing to weatherize. Check out the Energy Trust of Oregon site for more information.

Consider Switching Your Energy Source

An old furnace, an oil-burning furnace, or a poorly-maintained furnace – which of these sounds like the biggest potential drain on your bank account? The answer is: any of these has the potential to be the biggest, depending on the circumstances.

If you’re really looking to cut your energy bills, then consider switching energy sources or purchasing a new furnace. And, make sure that you keep up on your maintenance schedule, changing filters on time, servicing the pilot light and burners, etc.

Staying Warm When the Rose City Freezes Up

Staying warm this winter in Portland, without spending more than necessary, doesn’t have to be complicated. Implementing one, two, or all the ideas from this list is bound to save you money, make your home more cozy, and keep your winter heating bills in check.