Making your home more energy efficient requires you to focus on space heating and hot water consumption. These are considered to be the main reasons why so much energy is being consumed in a house. To reduce energy consumption, some of these basic steps have to be taken:
Insulating Your Water Heater If you always have plenty of hot water, you may be able to get by with lowering your water heater's thermostat setting. Electric heaters benefit most from this approach to saving energy. Timers are also available which allow you to make the water heater conform to your water usage schedule. They prevent the water heater from trying to maintain hot water during periods when it is never used.
Although water heaters are already insulated, you can always add to that. Cut strips of insulation the same length as the circumference of the water heater. Wrap the insulation horizontally around the unit using duct tape to seal the seams where they meet. Make cut-outs to leave the thermostat, controls and drain faucets exposed. If you have an electric water heater, cut a cap of insulation to fit the top. Provide slits for the water inlet and outlet pipes. If you have a gas water heater, do not cover the burner access or the flue collar. Leave about two inches of exposed area around the flue collar then tape any remaining joints and seams.
Pipe Wrapping If your water pipes pass through unheated areas and run under your house from an unheated utility room, you should insulate them. Hot water pipes which are not insulated lose heat and cause your water heater to work harder. While the same is not true of cold water pipes, insulating them can also prevent them from sweating and dripping in heated areas, or freezing in unheated areas. Easy to use, pre-formed foam pipe insulation sleeves are easily available in most hardware stores.
Replace Furnace Filters Clogged furnace filters reduce airflow through the heating/cooling system, forcing the unit to work harder. Severely clogged filters can cause the unit to overheat and can lead to premature compressor damage in air conditioning systems. This is why you need to check your furnace filter monthly. If you are going to go to the trouble to pull it out and look at it, you might as well go ahead and replace it in the process.
Cover the Windows and Seal the Doors Heat lost through windows and doors represents a significant chunk of most heating bills. Some sources estimate that loss through windows alone could account for up to 35 percent of heating bills. Check around windows and doors with a candle or a light piece of thread on a windy day to determine where drafts are. This will reveal problem areas in need of immediate attention. Remove and replace damaged caulk and weather-stripping. There’s also an inexpensive method of weatherizing windows that involves attaching thin, clear plastic film to the window trim inside of the house using two-sided tape. The film is then stretched tight using heat from a blow dryer to remove wrinkles and creases. Also, decorate your windows with efficiency — closed shutters, window shades, blinds, curtains and lined draperies. All contribute to energy savings by helping to insulate windows.
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