David has just posted 3 additional tips to help you save this winter.

1.     Keep a clean filter in your system. Keeping a clean, good quality filter in your system helps your system to breathe better and not have to work as hard. It’s really the most important thing you can do to maintain your furnace and air conditioner. Dirty filters increases energy costs and shorten the life of your equipment. 

2.     Keep the area around your furnace clear.  This is not only a safety consideration but can also help insure that the burners will get the air necessary for proper combustion. Clutter around a furnace, whether gas, electric or oil can be an unsafe a fire hazard. It may also impede airflow for combustion air that will result in poor fuel economy and equipment deterioration.

3.     DON’T close off vents and rooms! A popular recommendation in DIY articles is to close off unused rooms and the heating/cooling registers in those rooms. 

While it may be all right to close off 1-2 small rooms may not hurt your system, closing more could damage the indoor fan motor and cause furnace overheating. If you want to close off part of your system, having Selvey install a zone system might be the answer.

1.      Lower your thermostat setting a few degrees. Did you know that lowering your thermostat set point 3 degrees can save you as much as 10% on your heating and cooling costs? To stay warmer for less money, consider putting an extra blanket on the bed and lower your thermostat set point an additional five degrees or so when you retire at night. This is easily done with a good quality programmable thermostat.

2.      Don’t be a “thermostat jiggler.” Some people get uncomfortable and raise or lower their thermostat several degrees at a time. This causes wide swings in temperature using excessive energy, which costs money. If you become uncomfortable, instead of “spinning” the dial on your thermostat make a small adjustment, not more than two degrees. If after 10 minutes, the furnace has shut off and you are still too cool, adjust another 2 degrees. This will save you a few bucks and avoid wide temperature swings. Check out our article, What is the best setting for my thermostat?

Learn more about saving energy and tax credits.

If you need some help with any of these projects contact us by phone or through our website and we will recommend someone to you. Contact us for more information.

Are your heating bills too high? Mine are. Here are some easy ways to lower your heating bills. This the first of a multi-part series.

1.      Seal up cracks around openings. Dampen the back of your hand and use it to feel air that may enter your house through cracks around windows, doors, switches and electrical outlets. You can use a variety of materials to seal up these energy-stealing cracks and your local hardware store probably has some inexpensive, precut foam pads that you can mount behind switch plates and outlets to keep out the drafts.

2.      Replace broken or cracked panes on windows and storm windows. A lot of heat energy can slip through those cracks!

3.      Keep outside doors closed. This one may sound obvious, but many people think that if they have a heavy glass storm door it will not allow much heat to escape. The truth is that glass is a terrible insulator and it allows a lot of heat to escape. Double or triple pane glass allows less heat to escape than single pane, but generally, they still allow a lot of heat to escape.

If you need some help with any of these projects contact us by phone or through our website and we will recommend someone to you. Contact us for more information.