When the Cold Weather Comes…

Practical Ways to Reduce Home Heating Costs
It's a subject often repeated, but usually worth paying attention. At this time of the year, energy consumption and related costs can be significant economic and environmental issues for individual homeowners and communities from coast to coast. Fortunately, there is almost always something that can be dome to improve the situation. The basics include replacing old materials and equipment, changing old habits and adopting new ones, and learning about product improvements and program developments.

Be a Troubleshooter
In order to be really effective in reducing your heating costs this winter, you will need to begin with a thorough tour around the perimeter and throughout the interior of your home. This is the ideal time to carefully check for signs of problems that may contribute to an uncomfortable or expensive winter.

Outside Checklist
Get started now, before bad weather comes…
- Check exterior caulking around window and door frames.
- Direct downspouts away from the foundation (use extensions if necessary)
- Examine the foundation for cracks, crumbling or discoloration.
- Clean eavestroughs. (if at cleaning time you discover that they are collecting a lot of shingle debris, such as asphalt particles, it is time to get a roof inspection).
- Inspect roofing, vents and flashing.
- Trim southern exposure bushes, evergreens and large trees.
- Protect outside utility pipes, wires and meters
- Clean your windows!

Inside Checklist
- Perfect projects for rainy days…
- Clean or replace furnace filters.
- Arrange to have your furnace inspected by a professional. (If it's old or unreliable, get a new unit, or at least sign up for an emergency maintenance plan).
- Install threshold sweeps and weatherstripping on windows and entrance doors.
- Check interior caulking around baseboards, door and window frames.
- Seal cracks around electrical fixtures, switches and window frames.
- Inspect attic for moisture damage from exterior water, or interior humidity getting past the vapor barrier.
- Measure your attic insulation depth and R-factor, to see if it's doing an adequate job for your home.

Go Green for the Future
If you are making a decision about a new heating, cooling and/or ventilation system, you should learn about the latest technologies available and how they differ from other available systems. For example, with the newest systems, you can improve efficiency, reduce your fuel consumption and combat rising costs by utilizing renewable home energy supplements such as heat pumps and solar panels. Now, more than ever, homeowners have reliable alternative systems that use less fuel, operate with greater efficiency, and provide year-round comfort - all, while doing their part to help save the environment.

Quick Tips
Things you can do to save energy every day…
- Install a set-back thermostat
- Use energy saving light bulbs
- Consider automatic light switch sensors for frequently used rooms
- Install a 2-way ceiling fan
- Use air deflectors over registers
- Use bathroom fans vented outside to control humidity
- Install energy saving window converings
- Hang interior wall coverings on exterior walls
- Turn down you hot water heater
- Fix hot water faucet drips
- Add a low flow showerhead
- Vacuum your air ducts (you can "do-it-yourself" with a long flex hose)

Enjoy the Weather This Winter
It is always easier to deal with potential winter problems during the fall, when the weather is more pleasant, and more conductive to exterior home improvements. By checking your home now and being prepared for winter, you'll save money right from the first cold day, and avoid issues that could prove to be very difficult, if not impossible, to fix in cold weather. Best of all, you'll be more comfortable inside, no matter that the weather is like outside.

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