It’s the time of year when mornings are getting chillier, and many of us are waking up while the sky is still dark. We’re eager to put on big, comfy sweaters, watch the Saints play, and enjoy the taste of a pumpkin spice latte. It’s also the right time to think about weatherizing your house for those cold temperatures that tend to sneak up on us when we New Orleanians least expect it. Keeping yourself comfortable during unpredictable fall days doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Here are some ways to save energy during the fall.

First of all, don’t crank up the heat! The house will warm up at the same rate, regardless of the how high you set the heat. In other words, your home won’t heat up any faster by raising the temperature. One clever hack is reversing the airflow of your ceiling fans. During the fall and winter months, the blades should be positioned in the clockwise position, which will help redistribute the heat. Don’t forget to change dirty furnace air filters. Doing this can provide a cost savings of up to 5 percent! If you’re one of the lucky ones with a fireplace, then now is a good time to check vent systems and clean chimneys.

When it comes to lighting, there are also ways you can save! Before anything else, replace light bulbs. Switching to energy-efficient options like CFLs or LED bulbs can make a difference. This is because they use less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. To save even more power and money, try installing motion sensors or timers on external lights. Not to state the obvious but turn off lights when they are not being used. Use automatic control switches to adjust lighting to appropriate levels.

Keep your home optimized for the colder months with regular inspections and maintenance from River City’s Total Maintenance!