You’re probably prepared for fall. Sweater? Check. Hot cocoa? Check. Weekend afternoons binging football? Double check. But are you prepared to save energy during colder weather? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Fall into energy savings with our cool weather checklist!
Get the 411 on your furnace. ✔
Your furnace is about to enter its busiest season. Make sure it’s ready. Hire an HVAC contractor to give your furnace a check up and fix any pesky issues before those cold winter months. Checking your furnace once a year is a great way to stay warm and more importantly to stay safe! Also, remember to regularly replace your air filters too. It’s a breeze!
Check for leaks to defeat drafts. ✔
Stay warm without burying yourself under heavy blankets and check for air leaks. The most obvious sources of air leaks are under doors and window seals, as well as your fireplace surround. But there are so many other places to check for drafts. Our advice: check them all.
Run your fans in reverse. ✔
Running your fan in cold weather may sound counterintuitive, but it’s actually science. When you run your fan in a reverse (clockwise) direction at low speeds, you redistribute the warm air, so you can lower your thermostat without feeling colder.
Don’t get burned by your water heater. ✔
Before you find yourself in hot water, a simple way to save energy is to set your water heater temp at 120 degrees. That’s warm enough to kill harmful bacteria without burning your hands, or getting burned by high-energy use. Another great idea is to wrap your water heater with an insulating blanket. No ordinary blanket will do – look for an insulating blanket designed specifically for water heaters.
So how’d you do on our cool weather checklist? If you do these four things, you’re already off to a great start.