Some Tips From The Raleigh Home Inspector On Saving Some Money This Winter
The Raleigh Home Inspector wants everyone to be a bit more energy conscious…to reduce your winter energy use and save some money in doing so. Who doesn’t want save a few dollars these days, right?
With winter just around the corner, our energy bills are likely to rise in correlation with the fall of the mercury of the thermometer. I can almost hear the cacophony of groans as the envelopes from the utility companies are opened on a monthly basis during the winter heating months. There are however, some common sense actions that are conducive to some savings on your utility bills…things that we sometimes ignore, or take for granted, or that we just haven’t considered as costing us a bit more money than we otherwise have to spend. And, as it has been said by the wise Mr. Benjamin Franklin, “A penny saved is a penny earned”.
Furnace/HVAC Systems
Keep your furnace well maintained. If your furnace is working at peak efficiency it will use less energy and cost less to operate.
Clean or replace the filter every 30 – 45 days – a dirty filter reduces the airflow and forces the furnace to work harder and to run longer to heat your home. When it comes to heating systems, its all about efficiency. When it comes time to replace an existing system, consider purchasing a new ENERGY STAR® qualified furnace with a variable speed motor. Each year, an average home can save over $500.00 in natural gas and/or electricity costs when upgrading from a standard efficiency natural gas furnace to a 95% efficiency furnace with a high efficiency variable speed motor.
Programmable Thermostats Are Installed In The Home Of The Raleigh Home Inspector
Thermostat
This one is really easy.. simply lower your thermostat by 7 – 9 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re sleeping at night and when no one is at home. The Raleigh Home Inspector has ones like the one shown installed, manufactured by the Trane, in his personal home.
You could also install a programmable thermostat. You can save 2% on your heating bill for every 2 degree F. you turn down your thermostat. With a programmable thermostat to consistently lower your heat when you don’t need it, you could save up to $60 a year!
There is one caveat…to realize the potential savings, one must learn and understand how to efficiently operate the thermostat; some of the thermostats on the market can be a bit daunting to learn how to operate. But persevere…it will be worth it in the end!
Laundry
Start using cold water when doing your laundry. 85 – 90% of the energy used to wash your clothes is used to heat the water. By switching the dial to the cold water setting on your washing machine, you help the environment, save energy, and save money.
Wash full loads.
Only wash full loads of clothes…I know, I know…you don’t want the washer too full. But operating the clothes washer once for a large load rather than twice for two small loads only makes good sense, right. It will cost you less to do so.
Weather-stripping
Apply weather-stripping to operable windows, exterior doors, garage doors, and doors that lead to the attic spaces that abut conditioned space.
Windows, door frames, sills and joints
Apply a sealant or caulk around windows, door frames, sills and joints. On a windy day feel for leaks or use a couple of incense sticks to help identify leaks around windows, electrical outlets, vents and exterior doors. As well look for spider webs – if there is a web there is a draft.
Make Sure exterior doors close and latch tightly against their weather stripping
Make sure the bolt of the hardware secures the door in a position that is tight against the weather stripping; if there is excessive air transfer around the door when it is closed, consider adjusting the strike plate to provide tight closure. This is a very common item observed by the Raleigh Home Inspector while performing a Home Inspection.
Basement
If you have an unfinished basement or crawlspace, check for leaks by looking for spider webs. Where there is a web, there may be a draft. A large amount of heat is also lost from/through an uninsulated basement.
Pipes, ducts, fans and vents
Plug gaps around pipes, ducts, fans and vents that go through walls, ceilings and floors from heated to unheated spaces.
Shower-heads and faucets
Install low-flow and faucets; you’ll use less water and, especially, less hot water.
Dishwasher
Always wash a full load in your dishwasher and air-dry your dishes on the “energy saver” setting; this is akin to the principal of “less is more” as with the operation of the clothes washer.
Fireplaces
Close the damper of drafting fireplaces (when not in use, of course) to prevent warm air from escaping up the chimney, and ensure that the damper fits/closes properly and fully.
If you are in need of a professional Home Inspection…A Quality Residential Inspections type of Home Inspection…then contact the Raleigh Home Inspector at 919-848-4833. Our friendly office staff will answer any questions or concerns that you might have and make sure that your Raleigh Home Inspection is scheduled to your satisfaction.
