Keep the Warmth Inside

It’s the time of year to weatherize because warm air escaping from your home is like having a hole in your pocket.

Make sure your heating equipment is ready for winter. Have a qualified Service Technician perform an inspection. If repairs are needed, have a qualified Service Technician perform the work.

Weatherize the areas in your home where warm air can easily escape, including seams, cracks and openings around windows, doors and baseboards, as well as through small openings around TV cables, dryer vents, and plumbing pipes.

Set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less.

Make repairs to toilets that are running or the water in the bowl is hot. Running toilets make the water heater constantly run. Hot water in the toilet means your mixing valve has failed and needs to be replaced. This would also cause the water heater to constantly run.

Make sure thermostats are placed on an inside wall, or not placed where cool air can effect them. Thermostats placed on outside walls or where cool air can affect them, call for heat when not needed. Make sure thermostat heat anticipators are set properly. Set thermostats between 65-70 degrees during the winter and at 60 degrees when away from the house for more then a few hours. If your garage has a separate heater, turn it down to 50 degrees. While sleeping, add an extra blanket for warmth. Bear in mind that warmer temperatures are recommended for homes with ill or elderly persons or infants.

Install a programmable thermostat. This type of thermostat will automatically change the settings at certain times of the day.

Replace furnace filters every month. This is especially important if you have pets. Make sure your heating and water heating equipment is properly ventilated.

Make sure your home is well insulated to prevent heat from escaping. Check levels of insulation in the attic, walls and floors. Insulate ducts in unheated spaces. DO NOT block the outside combustion air openings near heating equipment. These are needed for the safe operation of your heating equipment.

Install shades, awnings or sun screens on windows facing south and/or west to block summer light. In winter, open shades on sunny days to help warm rooms but close drapes to keep heat in during the night. Do not block air outlets and inlets with curtains or furniture. Your furnace needs unobstructed air flow to proper balance the system. For homes heated by boilers, clean baseboards of lint. Make sure baseboards are properly set up. (Carpet is not blocking the bottom, furniture to close). Baseboards need proper air flow to radiate heat.

Make sure your fireplace is properly vented and keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is going. To reduce heat loss up the chimney, install glass doors on your fireplace.

Make sure your home has a working Fire Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector on every level.

ENERGY STAR* When looking for new household appliances, look for the ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They meet strict energy guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US. Department of Energy.

More Information: www.energysavers.gov, www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips, www.energystar.gov, www.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/heat

The Power to conserve and save is in your hands