LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Colder temperatures have arrived in Kentuckiana with more winter weather on the way.

With those frigid temperatures sweeping through the region, it's a good time to take steps to winterize your home and ensure it will stay warm inside.

Tom Logsdon, a consultant with Tom Drexler Plumbing, Air & Electric, shared some tips Thursday that can help your heating systems run efficiently and without issue.

"When we have incidents or situations when it gets really cold like this, that's when this unit is really under a lot of stress to try to keep up with the needs of the home," he said of heating systems. "If there's any weakness, that's when it's going to show up."

Prevent draft from doors and windows

Drafts let in cold air, which can make your home feel chilly and uncomfortable, especially near the door. Your heating system is also forced to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. Blocking the cold air helps maintain a consistent and cozy indoor temperature.

Using a door draft stopper or weather-stripping is an inexpensive and effective way to keep your space warm and energy-efficient. You can also use household items.

"Get you a nice towel or a heavy blanket and just kind of put this up underneath these to keep that draft from coming in," Logsdon said.

Keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature

Constantly adjusting the thermostat can force your heating system to cycle on and off frequently, which increases wear and tear. Maintaining a steady temperature allows it to run more efficiently.

Experts recommend 68-69 degrees.

Large fluctuations in indoor temperature can make your home feel less comfortable. A consistent setting ensures a stable, cozy environment.

"If you're constantly adjusting it, the system is having to stress, and that's going to make it harder to keep the home more consistent," Logsdon said.

Close the doors of rooms you're not using

By closing off unused rooms, you reduce the space your heating system needs to warm, allowing it to focus on the areas you use most. This can help maintain a more comfortable temperature in those spaces.

Less heat is wasted on unused areas, leading to more efficient heating and potentially lower energy bills. Closed doors also act as a barrier to contain heat in the areas you're using, making it easier to maintain a stable and comfortable temperature.

"If you're not using some of these rooms right now, go ahead and pull some of these doors to so that you focus on heating areas of the home that you're staying in the most," Logsdon said.

Changing the air filter

Tom Drexler also recommends changing air filters, even if it's already a common household chore. 

"You're allowing for maximum airflow and you're also keeping from over-stressing your furnace," Logsdon said. "The harder it has to work, the more likely it is that it could potentially go out or give you trouble."

He said the filters are sometimes located on the heating units themselves, other times they're in a hallway. Logsdon said changing those filters will improve heating efficiency and help keep the home comfortable. 

Don't block vents

HVAC systems are designed to maintain balanced airflow throughout your home. Blocking vents can create pressure imbalances, making the system less efficient and potentially causing damage. When vents are blocked, your furnace or heat pump has to work harder to distribute air evenly, which could create issues.

"You really want to try and keep those open so you can get as much airflow and circulation through the house as possible so you're not constricting anything like that," Logsdon said.

Other tips to keep your house warm include pulling curtains shut to act as a layer of insulation around windows, using rugs over hardwood floors to trap the heat and changing the direction of your ceiling fan to push the warm air downward instead of up.

Related Stories:

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.