Seasonal Tips
By Ductworks
Heating
Fireplaces
When you cozy up next to a crackling fire on a cold winter day, you probably don`t realize that your wood-burning brick or masonry fireplace is one of the most inefficient heat sources you can possibly use. It literally sends your energy dollars right up the chimney along with volumes of warm air. A roaring fire can exhaust as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to the outside, which is replaced by cold air coming into the house from the outside. Your heating system must warm up this air, which is then exhausted through your chimney. If you use your conventional fireplace while your central heating system is on, these tips can help reduce energy losses.
Check Your Insulation.
If you haven‘t looked in your attic lately (or ever!) then get up there and take a look around to make sure the insulation is in good condition. Make sure there are enough air pockets to trap cold air. Old insulation can become brittle and ineffective so if your insulation is not doing the job it might be worth the time and energy to replace it.
Check Your Windows.
You can lose a lot of heat through the cracks around your windows and the windows themselves. Check each window and make sure it is well sealed. You can buy kits that will help you test this. Be sure to caulk and seal around windows where you find leaks, and replace any interior seals that are damaged. If your windows are old, it might be worth the money in the long run to replace them with new triple pane replacement windows.
Weather Proof Your Entryways.
Along with the windows, check your doors for drafts. Using weather stripping around the doors will help keep your heat from leaking out and the cold from getting in.
Get a Ceiling Fan.
Just like you learned in 4th grade - heat rises so you want to keep the warm air down in the room, especially if you have high ceilings. Most ceiling fans have a switch to reverse the direction so you can use them for cooling in the summer and pushing hot air down in the winter. Be sure you run it in the right direction or you might end up with cold air in the winter and warm in the summer!
Shut Off Unused Rooms.
If you have a room or rooms that you don‘t use, keep the doors shut. Try to remember to shut doors if you will be in the room for a long time. Rooms which are used only sometimes will have the door fanned which allows cold air to escape into your others rooms. This, in turn, will make your furnace work harder and increase your heating costs.
Let The Sun Shine In.
On sunny days, open your curtains and mini blinds but make sure you close them when darkness falls or on cloudy days. Getting insulated curtains can help keep out drafts from around the windows.
Get A Door Alignment.
Over time, doors can sag and get out of alignment. Take a good look at your doors to see if they still fit in the casing properly. If they don‘t then adjust them for a tight fit.
Have Your Furnace Checked.
Spend the money to have a professional give your furnace a checkup to be sure it is working at peak performance. This is important not only from a cost perspective but also from a safety perspective. A system that is not running as efficiently as it can will cost you money in heating bills so the money to have it inspected will be well spent.
Air Filter.
Air filters can get clogged which ends up costing you money in fuel - it causes your heating system to run inefficiently and can be a safety hazard. Changing out the filter once a year is a good idea and something you can do yourself with minimal cost.
Cooling
Have your Air Conditioning system tuned-up for the season, so that you are running at peak efficiency.
Operating at peak efficiency will save money because the system doesn't have to work as hard to do its job.
Replace your furnace or air handler filters on a regular basis.
Lack of regular filter changes and maintenance is the Number 1 cause of system breakdowns and costly repair bills.
If you disconnected the power to your central air conditioning system in the winter, wait 24-hours after turning power back on to the system to run it.
Your compressor needs that time to warm-up.
Keep the thermostat constant.
Continuously adjusting the thermostat can be very inefficient. You can, however, raise the thermostat 2-3 degrees during the day while you're away to save money. For every degree you raise the setting, you can expect to cut energy consumption by up to 3-5%.
Flip the fan switch on your thermostat into the "fan on" mode when cooling the house.
This process will ensure that air is always being stirred to prevent hot and cold pockets from forming.
Set air vents on the second floor to receive approximately 75 percent of the conditioned air.
This will help even out the temperatures from the first to the second floor of the home.
Keep the shades and curtains drawn to reduce the radiant heat of the sun.
Keep the shades and curtains drawn to reduce the radiant heat of the sun.
Install awnings or plant trees that will shade southern facing windows. This keeps the hottest rays of the sun from shining directly into the house.
Install awnings or plant trees that will shade southern facing windows. This keeps the hottest rays of the sun from shining directly into the house.
Run a dehumidifier in the basement if the basement is humid.
A damp basement can add moisture to the whole house. A dehumidifier in the basement will help to reduce the humidity levels and latent heat load in the home, making it more comfortable throughout in the hot summer months.
I have trouble getting even amounts of heat/cooling to certain parts of my house. How can I get more heat/cooling to the upstairs/downstairs of my home?
Adjust the louvers inside the registers on the wall or floor in the room where too much heat/cooling is present so that the registers are partially closed. For example, to get more cooling upstairs during hot summer months, partially or fully close the registers downstairs to force more airflow to the upstairs registers.
Don't block vents or ducts inside the house to assure air flow in the home.
Your heating and air conditioning equipment and sheet metal ductwork have been engineered together, by restricting the air flow this changes the thermodynamics of the refrigeration and furnace operation. This disruption will reduce efficiency and overall life expectancy of the system.
Install an attic fan to help ventilate some of the hot air out of the attic.
Attics can reach temperatures of 140 - 150 degrees and this build up of warm air can make the upstairs of a home warmer than it needs to be. This makes the air conditioner work harder to do its job. It costs you more to cool your home and the life of the system can be decreased.
Replace older windows with more efficient low-E glass. These windows help to reduce the effect of the suns warming rays. Also, keep storm windows closed.
This will reduce the heat load gain on your home which means your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard to keep the home at a comfortable temperature. This saves money and extends the life of the system.
Clear or cut back shrubs and bushes from the outdoor unit.
The sides of the unit require at least 12-18 inches of clearance for proper performance.
Keep fallen leaves, grass clippings, foliage and other dirt and debris away from your outdoor unit. And keep the a/c coils clean, following manufacturers' instructions.
Keep fallen leaves, grass clippings, foliage and other dirt and debris away from your outdoor unit. Also keep the a/c coils clean, following manufacturers' instructions.
Caulk and install weather stripping around windows and doors (especially the attic) to close air gaps.
Caulk and install weather stripping around windows and doors (especially the attic) to close air gaps.
Avoid using the oven during the day. Run the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer in the evening, when electricity rates may be lower and heat from those appliances won't increase a/c demands.
Avoid using the oven during the day. Run the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer in the evening, when electricity rates may be lower and heat from those appliances won't increase a/c demands.
All Seasons
Set the Thermostat
The most economical operation of your system comes from setting the thermostat properly. Set the thermostat at the highest summer setting or the lowest winter setting at which you are comfortable. Typical settings are 78 degrees for summer cooling and 68 degrees for winter heating. When cooling, your operating costs increase from 3% to 8% for each degree your thermostat is lowered. When heating, your operating costs increase similarly for each degree your thermostat is raised.
Keep the Air Filter Clean
The easiest way to ensure your system operates efficiently and economically is by keeping the air filter clean. There are several types of air filters and several possible locations for the air filter. Ask your service technician next time he`s out at your home to show you where your air filter is located and which type of filter to use. If you have allergies, you should look at a pleated allergy filter or a media or electronic style air cleaner.
Keep Doors and Windows Closed
Close all doors and windows to the outside. This will reduce the heating load in winter and the cooling load in summer. Your system will operate more economically as a result.
Keep Vents and Grilles Unobstructed
Arrange your furniture and drapes so that all output vents and intake grilles are free from obstruction. This will reduce the cooling and heating load on your system for more economical operation.
Avoid Excess Use of Exhaust Fans
Excessive use of kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans will make your system work harder. This will increase energy consumption and costs. Keep costs in check by making wise use of exhaust fans.
Control Direct Sunlight
Let the sun in during the winter. In winter, direct sunlight reduces the load on your heating system. Open window shades and awnings to increase direct sunlight and lower the heating load.
Keep Heat Away from the Thermostat
Make sure no heat-generating appliances are near your thermostat. These include lamps, TV`s, stereo and computer equipment.
Keep An Air Tight House
Make sure no heat-generating appliances are near your thermostat. These include lamps, TV`s, stereo and computer equipment.
Ensure maximum retention of heated or cooled air by adding insulation to outside walls and attic. Seal cracks and use storm doors and/or insulated doors to prevent air leaks. Some recommended R-values for Hartford County are as follows:
Attic/Ceiling = R49 (12-18" of insulation)
Walls Optimum Value= R19 (6-1/4 of insulation)
Weatherization
Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter can waste a substantial portion of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weather-strips all seams, cracks and openings to the outside. You can save 10% or more on your energy bill by reducing the air leaks in your home.
