Many consumers tend to worry about their homes being too cold in the winter, and might neglect the problem of the home being too warm in the summer. Energy Doctor has created an energy savings checklist to help you improve energy conservation year round! Read through our tips below and contact us to request any of our construction or installation services today.
Draft Proofing at Home
- Locate and seal any air leaks in the walls, ceilings, floors, and basements
- Check and replace all worn or damaged weather stripping on windows and doors
- Caulk the inside and outside of all windows and doors
- Remove, caulk, and replace exterior wall baseboards
- Install foam draft enders on all electrical wall outlets
- Caulk electrical, plumbing, and any other vents, inside and outside the home
- Seal around the ceiling fixtures and caulk where any wires enter
- Check dryer and exhaust vent hoods to make sure flappers are closed properly
- Seal around plumbing stacks and use a high temperature sealant around the chimney
- Weather strip and insulate interior attic access doors
Energy Saving Secrets
- Check all radiators and registers to make sure furniture or drapery is not blocking them
- Regularly clean the surfaces of radiators, convectors, baseboards, and finned tube heaters
- Remove or tightly cover air conditioners during cooler months
- Make sure flute is closed on fireplaces, and possibly install cover over the opening
- Check and replace damaged refrigerator and freezer seals
- Using a vacuum cleaner, clean the condenser coils at the back or bottom of refrigerators or freezers
- Dry normal size loads of laundry back-to-back. Overloading cuts down on efficiency, and back-to-back drying makes use of leftover heat
- Install draft guards at the bottom of any doors that open into an unheated area
- Avoid opening the oven door too often when cooking. Turn the oven off about 15 minutes before the end of the cooking time
- Avoid using stove and bathroom exhaust fans in the winter; they remove warm air from the home
- Set ceiling fan in reverse during winter months to re-circulate warm air