Cooler air will be a welcomed relief in Middle Tennessee after record-setting hot weather this summer. That’s got us thinking about watching football, enjoying the changing leaves and heading to the pumpkin patch. But, it’s also the right time to weatherize your home before temperatures fall.
Check out NES’ fall energy-saving guide for easy ways to help brace for the cold and save some cash.
Find and Seal Air Leaks
Use caulk or weather stripping to seal leaky exterior doors and windows. If you can see light around your door threshold or feel cold air seeping through your windows, you’re losing energy and reducing the comfort level of your home. The best heating system in the world won’t help much if your house is drafty. Watch our short video for step-by-step instructions on Preventing Air Leaks Around Windows & Doors.
Maintain Your HVAC Unit
Change your air filters and schedule regular maintenance to help increase the efficiency and life of your furnace. This will keep your house warm while also saving energy. A dirty filter will slow air flow and make your system work harder.
Adjust the Temperature
One of the easiest ways to save on your heating bill is to turn the thermostat down and bundle up with a cozy sweater and warm socks. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to keep your house at the recommended temperature of 68 degrees when you’re at home, while automatically adjusting the thermostat to turn down a few degrees when you leave or go to sleep.
Consider Your Fireplace
There’s nothing better than cozying up to a warm fire, but make sure to keep an eye on your chimney. It can act like an open window when the fireplace is not in use. Close the damper after the fire is completely out so you don’t lose your heated air. If you never use your fireplace, consider plugging and sealing the chimney flue.
Lower Your Water Heating Costs
If you have an older tank located in an unheated area, wrapping it with a water heater insulation blanket is a cheap and easy way to reduce water heating costs. You should also turn down the temperature of your water heater to the recommended setting of 120 degrees.
If you want to learn how you can save even more year-round, visit nespower.com.
Tags: