SAVING MONEY THIS WINTER
Here are some tips to help you prepare and save.
Properly preparing your home for winter isn’t as hard as you might think and it’s like putting money in the bank. Schedule a weekend in the fall to get ready for the colder weather. Some winterizing tasks you can do on your own, but if you need assistance you should contact Foxton Fuels for help.
TUNE-UP YOUR FURNACE
Call Foxton Fuels and schedule a routine maintenance and inspection of your furnace each autumn to make sure it is in good working order. Make sure that they change your filter so that the furnace will work less hard, use less energy and last longer. If your furnace is old, you might consider updating it. New furnaces are far more efficient than ever before.
USE A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT
A Programmable thermostat allows you to automatically turn down the heat when you’re away at work or when you’re sleeping at night, and then boost the temperature to a comfortable level when you need it. If you do not have a Programmable thermostat consider installing one.
REVERSE CEILING FANS
If you have ceiling fans, reverse the switch on them so they blow upward toward the ceiling. Ceiling fans are a great idea in the summer, when air blowing downward can improve circulation and make a room feel cooler. By reversing the fan’s direction, the blades move air upward in winter. This is especially valuable in high ceiling rooms where heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.
WEATHER-STRIP
Check around doors and windows for leaks and drafts. Add weather-stripping, and caulk any holes you see that allow heat to escape. Make sure doors seal properly. Weather-stripping and cauldking is probably the least expensive, simplist, most effective way to cut down on energy waste in winter. Improperly sealed homes can waste 10 to 15 percent of the homeowner’s heating dollars.
CLEAN AND INSPECT YOUR FIREPLACE
Don’t forget to close the damper on your fireplace. Of course the damper needs to be open if a fire is burning, but if the damper is open when you’re not using the fireplace, your chimney functions as a large open window that draws warm air out of the room and creates a draft. Close that damper – it’s an effective energy-saving tip that costs you nothing!
CHECK YOUR DUCTS
Examine your house’s heating ducts for leaks. Your ducts are like hoses that bring hot air (instead of water) into your house. Mostly out of sight, ducts can leak for years without you knowing it. They can become torn or crushed and flattened. Old duct tape – the worst thing to use to seal ductwork, by the way – will dry up and fall away over time, allowing junctions and splices to open, spilling heated air into your attic or under the house. You may want to consider having your ducts inspected and cleaned by a professional.
INSULATE YOUR ATTIC
In an older home, this can be the most cost-efficient way to cut home heating costs. Before energy efficiency standards, homes were often built with little or no insulation. As a result, large amounts of heat can be lost through walls, floors and – since heat rises – especially ceilings.
For more information please call us at: 1-800-265-3069
Remember to replace your air filters every month.