This Thanksgiving was a chilly one, and those cold temperatures are sticking around into next week, so the Tennessee Valley Authority is giving some tips on how to keep warm while keeping energy bills down.
But first, meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Paducah says temperatures will be well below normal this weekend and into next week, with lows in the teens and day-time highs in just the 30’s on Monday. Areas to our north near I-64 could even see a couple inches of snow, but the Christian County area might only see some flakes in the air, with no impacts really expected here.
We will still be feeling the frigid air though, so Ashley England with the TVA gave some tips on how to make best use of your HVAC system. She says make sure all the vents in your home are open and uncovered, so your unit doesn’t have to work so hard.
She says it’s a myth that closing off vents to unoccupied rooms saves on the energy bills—if you were heating with a fireplace, that would work, but your HVAC is designed to heat a home evenly, so closing the vents doesn’t do much.
England says while the air might be cold, you can still take advantage of the sun’s warmth by opening the blinds and curtains during the day, letting in that light.
And don’t forget to get those units tuned up, and for sure keep those filters clean to help keep the unit from working harder than it needs to.
During this cold snap, bring outside animals inside if you can’t—if that’s not an option, make sure they have a good, insulated shelter from the wind and elements, and keep water fresh and unfrozen.
