Stay Warm and Save Energy this Fall
Fall is finally here, and I think most of us are ready for it. The cooler temperatures, changing leaves, football, and all the other things that come with fall make it one of my favorite times of the year. Of course, living in Indiana, you never really know what kind of weather you are going to get. We can have 70 degrees one day and be looking for the thermostat the next.
One of the things I like about this time of year is that we get a little break from running the air conditioner, but that break doesn’t last forever. Before long, those cooler temperatures will have us turning the heat back on, and that is when we start to see our electric usage change. Around my house, I think we sometimes play a little game of “how long can we go before we turn the heat on?” We might put on another sweatshirt, grab a blanket, or decide that 64 degrees really isn’t that cold after all. Eventually, though, somebody gives in and turns it on. Usually that somebody is me.
Heating your home is one of the largest uses of energy for many households, so October is a good time to make sure your heating system and home are ready for the colder months ahead. A few simple things now can help your system run more efficiently and may help keep some of those winter electric bills under control.
One of the easiest places to start is with your furnace or heat pump. If you haven’t had your heating system checked or serviced recently, now is a good time to do it. Nobody wants to discover that their furnace isn’t working when it is 15 degrees outside. Changing your air filter regularly is another simple thing that can make a difference. A dirty filter makes your system work harder and can reduce the amount of air moving through your home.
Next, take a look around your house for places where warm air could be escaping. Check around doors and windows for drafts and make sure weatherstripping and caulking are still doing their job. Also make sure furniture, rugs, curtains, or other items aren’t blocking your vents and registers. You want the warm air you are paying for to actually make it into the room.
Don’t forget about your attic and insulation. Good insulation helps keep the heat you are paying for inside your home instead of letting it escape through the attic. If your home is older, or you have noticed that some rooms are always colder than others, it may be worth having your insulation checked.
Fall is also a good time to clean your dryer vent. Lint buildup can restrict airflow, making your dryer work harder and take longer to dry your clothes. Keeping the vent clean can improve efficiency and, more importantly, reduce the risk of a dryer fire. It is one of those jobs that is easy to forget about until there is a problem.
The good news is that saving energy doesn’t always mean spending a lot of money. Some of the best things you can do are simple maintenance and making sure your home is ready for the weather. You don’t have to do everything at once. Pick a couple of things this fall and make them part of your normal routine.
Before we know it, winter will be here. Take a little time now to get your home ready, and hopefully when that first really cold day arrives, you’ll be sitting inside enjoying the warmth instead of wondering why the furnace is making that strange noise. And if you’re like me, maybe you’ll have a football game on and be perfectly happy letting the cold weather stay outside.