Now that the days are shorter and the nights are colder, don’t let heat escape through leaky doors and windows. Weatherproof your home for the winter and help reduce your energy bill.
Here are a number of tips from Hydro One to help save on those energy bills:
– fill the gaps. Check the trim on windows for gaps between the frame and your house. As much as 13 per cent of your home’s heat loss could be escaping through the gaps. If possible, stuff insulation between the window and frame. If that’s not an option, try caulking around the window;
– on sunny winter days, warm the air inside by opening window coverings to let the warmth of the sun in. Once the sun goes down, close window coverings to trap the warmth in. Think of your curtains as insulation for your windows;
– another inexpensive option is to build a barrier against the cold by sealing your windows with plastic sheeting in the winter. All you need is a hair dryer, double sided tape and some inexpensive plastic sheeting. There is indoor and outdoor sheeting available, so be sure to read the label;
– if the doors aren’t properly fitted, air is leaking outside. Rubber weather stripping is an easy way to seal the door by creating a skirt on the door frame;
– for a fireplace that never gets used, consider getting it sealed as warm air is sucked out if the damper is open. For those who do enjoy sitting by the fireplace, make sure to turn down the main thermostat. Fires can actually draw heat from the room up the chimney so your furnace has to work even harder;
– close off air registers in unused areas or rooms;
– get a programmable thermostat and try these settings; 21° (70°F) for relaxing; 20° (68°F) for working/exercising; 18° (64°F) for sleeping or away for the day; 16° (61°F) when away on vacation;
– make sure your furnace is running smoothly by:
– checking all of your intake and exhaust air vents to make sure they are clear;
– inspecting the filter. Hold it up to a light bulb and if you can’t see the bulb, it’s time for a new one;
– clearing the area around your furnace to ensure it is ventilated with ample circulation of fresh air for combustion; and
– setting your furnace fan switch on “automatic” instead of “on” or “continuous”.
Www.HydroOne.com/SaveEnergy.
