Powell Heating and Cooling
Powell Heating & Cooling - Tips
You probably already know that heating and cooling your home is your biggest energy cost. But combine proper maintenance and upgrades with a few energy-efficiency tips, and you can reduce your energy bills by 50% and cut pollution for all of us.
Be modest with your thermostat
Be modest with your thermostat. Set it as low as comfortable in winter and as high as comfortable in summer. Use programmable ones to automatically lower heat at night in winter and turn up the AC at night in summer.
Filters
Clean or replace furnace filters monthly.
Keep equipment clean
Clean registers, baseboard heaters and radiators regularly. And make sure they aren't blocked by furniture, rugs or drapes.
Check for leaks
Check ducts for air leaks. Repair holes with tape that carries the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) logo to avoid tape that cracks and doesn't adhere.
Fire place tips
Do you use your fireplace more in fall and winter? Fires are cozy, but fireplaces can exhaust as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to the outside. That air has to be replaced by cold air entering the house. Here are some fireplace tips:
- Plug and seal if you don't use your fireplace.
- Keep the damper closed when there is no fire.
- Check the seal on the damper and make sure it's snug.
Caulk around the hearth.
Utilize sunlight
Allow sunlight to help warm your home in winter. Keep draperies and shades open on windows with a southerly view. In the summer, keep those windows covered.
House fans
Whole-house fans help cool your home and they are cost-effective.
Use energy-efficient equipment
Choose energy-efficient equipment when replacing a heating and cooling system. Look for models with high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings and the highest Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER).
