Tips & Hints Page 4
Getting Ready For The Upcoming Heating Season
As Published on GoArticles.com and ArticleBlast.com -- October 2009
Did you ever notice how your family pet finds the sunniest spot in your home during the winter months and basks in the comfort of the sun warming the exposed area? Picture yourself in December, it's bare outside, many trees have shed their leaves, in can be a chilling thought. Think about it....the warmth of the sun can help you lower your utility costs. Open the drapes or blinds on the sunny side of your home on a cold day. There are many different ways to minimize your heating costs.
1. Don't overheat your home. Maintain a comfortable temperature, usually 68-70 degrees
2. Lower your thermostat to 60 degrees during sleeping hours. Consider installing a programmable thermostat to automate the process. You can save approximately 2% on your energy costs by lowering the temperature each night, it all adds up.
3. Caulk and weather-strip your doors and windows - don't let the warmth you're paying for leave your house.
4. If you're lucky enough to have a zoned system, don't heat rooms that are not occupied.
5. Insulate yourself by dressing properly - the 'layered look' is not only fashionable, it's functional.
6. Service your furnace or boiler - Have a professional inspect your system annually. It's a proven fact that maintaining your equipment improves its reliability, efficiency and reduces costs.
7. If you have a forced air system and find your getting cold air flow your fan delay may need to be adjusted. Speak to a professional service company about this.
8. Be sure to change your filters monthly if you have a ducted system. Reduced air flow can cause problems to your system. Not only will you be unable to heat your living space due to restricted air flow, your system will suffer from this as well.
If your system is older and inefficient consider replacing it with a more modern, high efficiency system. Older systems have efficiency levels that are somewhere in the area of 55% to 65%. Today you can get a system that is upwards of 85% to 95%. Think of the energy savings you'll achieve with new equipment. The payback time will make the expense well worth it. Federal Incentives and Rebates may apply.
For more information and helpful tips and hints for New Jersey home and business owners, visit our blog at http://blog.bornsteinsons.com.
Written by Bonnie Bornstein Fertel
