How You Can Save on Heating
 Add weather stripping around windows and doors and get out the caulk gun!
This is a project that any homeowner can do. Lowes, Home Depot or your neighborhood hardware store sell lots of different types of weather stripping and caulk for every use around the home. If you live in a drafty home, you could save up to 20 percent on heating costs with an investment of as little as $40.
Replace drafty doors-or install a storm door!
If you're replacing your front door, consider a fiberglass unit. These not only look great but have a higher insulating performance than traditional wood or steel doors. Storm doors are easy to install and come in a wide variety of styles. They all do a nice job of cutting down on those cold drafts coming through the dorrway.
Install ceiling fans
If you don’t have ceiling fans, we strongly recommend installing them in every bedroom and most other rooms. We run our ceiling fans year round during both heating and cooling seasons. Whoa! You say? Who runs ceiling fans in the winter? Well, remember learning in high school physics class that heat rises? Running ceiling fans slowly and in reverse will keep that warm air circulating and keep you more comfortable. This will reduce the time your furnace runs which will cut your monthly energy bill.
Rearrange the furniture
Huh? No, we are not kidding! A piece of furniture like a couch, chair or dresser over or in front of a vent or register will significantly decrease the efficiency of the entire home comfort system. The reason is that this disrupts the air flowing out from the furnace or air conditioner and also can disrupt the supply of air back to the system. In extreme cases, this can actually cause air to be drawn into the house from the outside down the chimney!
Clean your air registers and vents
Yes, it is unpleasant and yes, it can be pretty disgusting. But a few minutes with a screw driver and a vacuum cleaner can actually save you money on your heating bills! For the same reasons as you wouldn’t put a piece of furniture blocking a vent (you really wouldn’t would you?) you need to keep your vents and registers reasonably clean and clear. This can provide significant savings for no iinvestment.
Use compact florescent lightbulbs (CFLS)
You know those new weird looking spiral bulbs that they are trying to sell you? Yeah, the ones that cost a lot more and don't flash on immediately and also takes a few seconds to acheive maximum brightness? You know what we are talking about. Well, they REALLY WORK! These bulbs give off the same amount of light but use a third of the energy and many will last 5 or more years. Electric companies across the country say that replacing the five most used lightbulbs in your home with CFLs can save you up to $60 a year on your electric bill.
Install thermo-pane windows in your home
You'll increase your home's energy efficiency up to 70 percent. Multi-pane windows can have R-values of as high as 9.1. (The higher the R-value, the more resistant the glass is to losing heat.) A typical single-pane glass has an R-value of 1.
Insulate your ceilings and attic
Heat rises, and if there isn't enough insulation in your ceiling or attic, your heat (and money) is going out the roof — literally. Trumbull County winters are harsh and the summers are hot. In our area, the US Department of Energy recommends and r-value (that is the resistance to heat loss) of 49. That is the equivalent of about 15 inches of that itchy pink fiberglass cotton candy looking stuff. If you want to play around with a pretty cool website click here and be connected to the Department of Energy insulation calculator. It is kind of cool to play with!
Let the sun be your guide
Why not? It's free energy. During the day, open up those drapes and blinds and let that sun heat your home. At night, draw the curtains to keep the heat inside.
Respectfully serving Warren, Girard , Niles, Cortland, Newton Falls, West Farmigton, Hubbard, Liberty, Brookfield, Champion and all the rest of Trumbull County.
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