Home winterization can help you have a safe winter and save money.
Who doesn’t like to save money? At McCauley Electrical Service we’d like to provide you with a few helpful tips to save on energy cost this fall and winter. Here’s how you can make your home energy-efficient. Did you know heating and cooling your home can make up 54% of you monthly utility bill? Heating and cooling systems vary; however, you can save money and increase comfort no matter what kind of system you have. Let’s take the whole-house approach for home winterization.
In the big scheme of things, selecting an energy-efficient heating and cooling system will open up great savings each month, but a new furnace or heat pump only scratches the surface. Insulation, air sealing and thermostat settings are also huge contributing factors. Not only can you cut cost, but you can also help the environment through reduced emissions. A programmable thermostat is your friend. Set the thermostat to a comfortable low temperature in the winter; the ideal temp is 68?F. Also be sure to make adjustments when you are away from the home.
Did you know having a clean filter can determine the longevity of your heating and cooling system? Clean or replace the filter in your furnace and air conditioners as recommended or once a month to keep dust from building up and clogging the equipment. You should clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as well as make sure they are not blocked by furniture or drapes. With that said, keep drapes and shades on south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home and closed them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows. Eliminating trapped air from hot water radiators at least once a season as well as placing heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and radiators can also help your utility bill.
Some tasks to winterizing your home are simple, like changing the direction of your ceiling fans. During the winter, the fan blades should rotate clockwise or in reverse mode. This will re-circulate warmer air trapped near the ceiling downward to the floor. You will get warm air in areas where it is needed the most. Also make sure the fan speed is set to low while in reverse mode otherwise you could cause a wind chill effect.
With the weather in transition, now is the time to prepare for the cold months ahead. Follow these tips and watch the savings on your utility bill. As always, you can call on McCauley Electrical for your residential or commercial electrical repair needs.