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Energy & Safety

Home Heating Systems
 
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You can reduce your winter heating bills by practicing these energy-saving techniques.

  • Set your thermostat at the lowest possible comfortable Electronic thermostattemperature for you and your family. You can generate as much as 12% savings by maintaining a 10 degree temperature setback.
  • Program your clock thermostat to turn down the heat when nobody's going to be home for four or more hours during the day.
  • Place a small thermometer on the wall next to your thermostat and compare readings. If there's any difference between the readings, adjust your thermostat.
  • Replace your furnace filter at the beginning of winter and clean or replace it monthly during the heating season.
  • If you have a hot water heating system, periodically "bleed" air trapped in your radiators to increase heat flow. Also, place a reflective material such as aluminum foil behind radiators located near walls so heat will be reflected back into your home.
  • If you have a forced-air heating system, seal the seams and joints in the duct work with duct tape and insulate them with vinyl-backed fiberglass insulation.
  • If you have a gas-fired heating system, maximize its efficiency by getting it tuned-up every year. Make sure the fan motor, burners and circulator pump are properly maintained.
  • If you have a heat pump, keep the outdoor unit clear of grass, leaves and debris around the outdoor coil.
  • Use a humidifier to make the air feel warmer so you can lower your heating thermostat.
  • Close off rooms that aren't in use.
  • Keep windows and doors near your thermostat tightly closed.
  • Move furniture, draperies and carpeting away from electric baseboards and registers.
  • Seal seams and joints in ductwork with duct tape and insulate them with vinyl-backed fiberglass insulation.
  • Close drapes or cover windows at night and on cold, cloudy days.
  • Keep draperies and shades open on sunny days.
  • Proper insulation in walls, ceilings and floors will significantly reduce heat loss in your home.
  • Caulk and weatherstrip cracks in walls and floors, windows and walls to save energy and money.
  • Keep your fireplace damper closed tightly when not in use.
  • Close outside doors as quickly as possible. Just a few seconds with the door open lets in a lot of cold air.