Winters in most of the northern U.S. are no joke, and if you live in Michigan, your winters are second to few in severity. If that wasn’t enough incentive to do some annual winter home prep for energy efficiency and damage prevention, there’s the fact that both inflation and energy prices are near a 40-year high. Here are even more reasons why no smart Michigan homeowner should put off getting your home ready for winter:
- New furnaces are expensive. A new furnace can cost you anywhere from about $4,500 to $8,000. Simple furnace maintenance habits can mean the difference between a furnace that lasts for ten years and one that lasts for 20. Be sure to have an HVAC technician service your heating and AC system every fall and spring respectively, and change its filters every three months. You can also make a new one last longer by investing in an energy efficient furnace.
- Air leaks are money leaks. Your expensively heated indoor air can leak out around doors and windows and through electrical outlets, letting freezing (or subfreezing) air in. Failing to seal these properly means you’ll waste heating bill money and still have a harder time keeping your home warm. Inspect your home for air leaks well before winter and seal any you find with caulking or weather stripping. Consider purchasing storm windows to replace your screens and protect your regular windows.
- Drafty attics can cost you twice. Insulating your attic or crawl space saves you from two major expenses: heating bills and roof repairs. Insulation helps to keep outside air outside and warm air down in your living space rather than up in the rafters, saving you money on heating bills. It also helps to keep heavy and damaging ice dams from forming on your roof, since warm air escaping from inside the roof will melt and refreeze the ice and snow on top of it.
- Programmable thermostats turn up the savings. You can save money by turning your thermostat down when you go to bed and leave the house, but remembering to do this can be a hassle. A programmable thermostat will do this for you automatically, saving you money on heating bills and freeing up valuable space in your brain (and budget) for all the additional shopping, gatherings, and other activities that come with the holiday season.
Get Financing for Money-saving Energy Upgrades in Your Home
If you live in Michigan and you’re ready to invest in green appliances, you can get financing for new and safe energy efficient upgrades to your home with Michigan Saves.
Michigan Saves can help keep Mother Nature from costing you all year long. Our financing can help you quickly turn your house into a comfortable and energy efficient home by paying for virtually any energy upgrade you need. Check out our list of eligible improvements and get professional help from one of our authorized Michigan contractors in your area. Fall into energy savings with us today!
