According to the experts at Safe Electricity.org, energy dollars pour out of homes through drafty doors, windows, attics, walls and floors without even being noticed. Taking time to winterize and check heating equipment now can be a worthy investment, saving you money on your monthly bill and ensuring your home is safe as well.
It’s important to have a professional
inspect and service your furnace to make sure it is in good working order before
turning the heat on this winter. An efficient heating system means greater
comfort at a lower cost. Regularly clean or replace furnace filters monthly
during winter use, and check ducts, flues and chimneys. Ensure the chimney is
clean, clear of bird and animal nests and that there is no blockage by high
efficiency furnaces that vent through the wall. Keeping heating equipment clean
and in good repair will ensure peak efficiency and safety.
Consider installing a programmable thermostat
to automatically raise and lower home temperatures for energy savings day and
night. Set your thermostat to lower temperatures while you're asleep or away
from home.
Make sure attics and flooring, especially
above unheated spaces such as crawl spaces and garages, are properly insulated.
A quick rule of thumb is to check the attic – if you can see the ceiling
joists, you don’t have enough insulation. Ceiling joists are usually at most
10-11 inches and insulation should be a minimum of 12 inches. Find air leaks in
homes by moistening fingertips and running them around doors or window frames to
feel a draft. Check around outlets and look for gaps near the dryer vent,
chimneys and faucet pipes. Seal them all with caulking or weather-stripping.
Another way to save energy is by replacing
screens with storm windows and doors. Double-pane windows with low-e coating can
reduce heating bills by 34 percent in cold climates compared to uncoated,
single-pane windows. If you have older or leaky windows that you cannot replace,
consider temporary fixes, such as plastic film kits that create the effect of an
interior storm window.
Consider replacing regular incandescent light
bulbs with energy efficient Compact Florescent Light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use
one-fourth of the energy consumed by a regular bulb and can last 10 times as
long or longer.
During cold weather, don’t overlook simple
energy-saving steps such as opening curtains to let sunshine warm your home, and
reversing your ceiling fans to a clockwise rotation to re-circulate and force
the warm air downward and make sure fireplace dampers are closed when not in
use. These are effective energy-saving tips that cost you nothing.
As you take steps to winterize your home, use
the opportunity to check for electrical hazards. The dry winter air is a perfect
environment for electric shock and fire. Use this electrical safety checklist to
eliminate hazards:
·
· Check outlets and make sure
they are not overloaded or warm to the touch. ·
·
Examine electrical cords for
cracks, frays and damaged plugs, and don’t run cords under rugs, furniture or
behind baseboards. ·
·
Check that light bulbs are the
proper wattage and securely screwed in light fixtures so bulbs don’t overheat
and ignite curtains or nearby furniture. ·
·
Outlets related to frequent
circuit breaker trips or blown fuses should be inspected by a professional.
Dimming lights and shrinking pictures on televisions and computer monitors are
also electrical warning signs that merit an inspection. ·
·
Make sure bathroom, laundry room,
kitchen, and outdoor outlets have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and
test and reset them monthly. If these outlets do not have GFCIs, have them
professionally installed. ·
·
Test your smoke detector
batteries. Replace them if they are more than six months old.
·
If an electric space heater is
used, make sure the wiring is adequate, and check for cord fraying, splitting
wires, or overheating. Don’t place a portable heater in high-traffic areas and
keep it clear of curtains, bedding, clothes and furniture. Never use extension
cords with electric heaters.
Taking these simple steps can help reduce the
risk of fire, shock, injury or death. We want everyone to stay safe and warm
this winter.
For more safety and energy efficiency
information, visit www.SafeElectricity.org
or www.svalleyec.com.