Soon the cooler weather will be upon us, as will those dreadful heating bills. Time to check where you can save energy dollars, so you can enjoy that money somewhere else.
- Prevent Heat Leakage – Weatherstrip doors, caulk windows, cover drafty windows, seal electrical boxes on outside walls, and tape air leaks in ductwork to keep the heat in.
Fireplaces – For those used regularly, ensure the damper is closed after fires and install glass doors to reduce heat loss and cold drafts into the room. Unused fireplaces should have their dampers tightly sealed and the chimney plugged with insulation or a chimney balloon, otherwise it equates to an open window sucking heat out of your house. Better yet, install a high efficiency fireplace insert so you can actually enjoy the fire and supplement your heating bill.- Insulate – Blanket your home with insulation to keep the heat in. Verify the insulation levels of your attic, basement headers and attic door access.
- Let the Sun Shine In – During the day, open blinds and curtains on the sunny side of the house and take advantage of the solar heat, then cover up again at night to keep it all in.
- Reduce Home Temperatures – Add another layer of clothing and save on your bills.
- Ceiling Fan – Use them in reverse mode from summer to help push heat down from the ceiling and mix with the cooler air below.
- Programmable thermostat – Lower your home temperatures while you are away or asleep. Every degree lowered for seven hours a day saves one percent off your heating bill.
Zone Heat – Reduce temperatures in areas used less frequently by lowering thermostat and closing doors. Then add heat to areas where you spend the most time with supplemental heat from a fireplace, wood stove or portable heater.. Unused basements should have a base heat to keep floors and feet above toasty. Warm feet allow for lower air temperatures.- Schedule Annual Furnace and Fireplace Servicing – To maintain peak performance and efficiencies.
- Maintain Furnace and Fireplace – Change your furnace filters regularly and clean your fireplace chimney twice a season if used regularly.
- Increase Humidity – Moist air feels warmer than dry, which allows you to lower temperatures and still feel comfortable..
- Upgrade Your Furnace or Fireplace – Technologies have improved so much that anything 10 years or older is worth considering for replacement. Let us compare your existing costs with those of a new high efficiency furnace. Savings will vary by model. Let us find the right model for you.
Nordic Energy can help you update or maintain your furnace or fireplace so you can start saving today. To schedule a servicing or a free in-home estimate, call us at 705-222-9403 or visit us at 2324 Long Lake Rd, or www.nordicenergy.ca. We’d love to help you save and get comfortable.