Tips for lowering your energy costs!
With the fall approaching and then winter around the corner, what are you doing to protect your wallet and save the green backs? We could be in for a mild winter, or maybe not. At least it would be a good idea to test your heating system before the cold gets here, you don't want to wait until you need to, then don't have it.
So here are some tips to consider.
- Clean your furnace filter - Make sure your furnace filter is clean and replaced with a new one. This is one of the most overlooked and yet easiest to fix.
- Add insulation - Your attic could use a layer of insulation, this again is an area where you can create a big saving.
- Replace your light bulbs - with all the energy savings features available, there are many energy-efficient bulbs such as the fluorescent ones that us 75 percent less electricity.
- Protect your pipes - insulating your water lines in crawl spaces and the attic are sometimes overlooked. Hot water lines lose heat and can be wrapped to prevent this heat loss. The distance from the hot water tank to your shower may be long enough to allow a great deal of heat loss.
- Install a programmable thermostat - so many to choose from today, these are fairly inexpensive and provide a great deal of benefit. Lower the heat late at night can create a significant savings.
- Redirect the heat - here's a easy one, if you use the ceiling fans, reverse the direction of the fan during the winter to run counterclockwise pushing the warm air away from the ceiling and down the walls to the living area. Close down vents in less used rooms but not all the way. Check the basement duct work for a change in the flow of heat from your furnace. Many new homes today have a directional flow in the duct work that allows more air flow in upper areas of the home. You may see a winter and summer setting on your duct work.
- Use Special Paint - there now is a non-toxic ceramic powder you can put in your paint before you paint that room with a fresh coat of paint. This allows a reduction in the amount of heat passing through the walls. It creates a radiant barrier that reflects heat back into the room.
There you go! Something to think about the next time you don't have anything to do!
David L. Britt, MBA
Olathe, Kansas
David L. Britt Real Estate
Heritage Real Estate
The Heritage Real Estate Team
Olathe Neighbors 
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David - great tips! I always wondered...is it better to turn off your heating/AC when you leave the house all day or to just turn down the temp?
David, excellent advice! I like the "redirect the heat" one. I keep forgetting about that function in the fan. Of course, living in Pasadena, CA , it doesn't get too cold!
Naoma, turning it down is better, it doesn't task the unit as hard as it tries to recover to the temperature you desire! Thanks for commenting and asking!
Irina, okay, rub it in! :-) At least we have all four seasons and a White Christmas (sometimes)! Thanks for commenting!
David, I am sooo jealous of the four seasons. You are quite lucky!!!
Irina, ask me that in January!! Then I will trade you places!!
Great tips. I'd also add change the batteries in your smoke detector.
Great suggestions. Not that we really have to worry about "winter" too much in Arizona, but nonetheless appreciated!
Thanks for the tips. Energy saving is also money saving. I'm all for it. How about blocking drafts from windows and doors?
Marlene, just keeping spares batteries around can be an issue at my house! I would agree with your thoughts on the yearly change for smoke detectors! Thanks for adding!
Kaushik, winter, you have the season, just not the temperature variation! :-)
Rosario, hmm, blocking drafts reminds me of the very old homes with poor construction. I would hope most homes today are built with better construction, but those older homes still do exist! Thanks for you input!
Howdy David
Some very fine helpful info for buyers and home owners.
Have a good one
Dale, thanks for commenting!