CONSUMER TIPS
TO KEEP YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE
BOTH WINTER AND SUMMER:
Draft-proof windows, doors, and other air leaks.
A cold, windy day is a good time to check for leaks. You can make a "draft detector" by clipping a piece of tissue paper or light plastic to a coat hanger. Hold the hanger in front of a suspected crack. Any movement of paper will indicate leakage. Caulk or weather-strip the opening.
Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows that leak air. Cost of caulking and weather-stripping materials is very reasonable, and the job is easy to do yourself. Annual energy savings could be as much as 10 percent.
Be sure to look for air leaks through openings where plumbing or electrical wiring goes through walls, floors, and ceilings. Check for drafts from electrical outlets, around ceiling fixtures, and at attic openings.
Close fireplace dampers.
Consider installing storm windows and doors. Whether hand-made or professionally installed, storm windows could save you as much as 15 percent a year in heating costs.
Insulate
No matter how you heat or cool your home, you can reduce the load on your heating and cooling equipment by as much as 20 percent by investing a few hundred dollars in insulation. And the benefits of insulation - lower utility bills - continue for years.
To find out if your home needs insulation and/or how much, consult a reputable insulation dealer, your local building inspector or your county agent.
Find out about R-values and the heating zone for your state. (Arkansas is Zone 5.) buy the thickness of insulation that will give you the appropriate R-value.
Insulate your attic floor or top floor ceiling.
Do NOT insulate over eave vents or on top of recessed lighting fixtures or other heat-producing equipment on the attic floor. keep insulation at least three inches away from the sides of these types of fixtures.
Insulate floors over unheated spaces such as crawl spaces and garages. make sure any ducts in unheated spaces are properly insulated and that leaks are taped.
WHEN THE HEAT IS ON
Keep your heating equipment well tuned with periodic maintenance by a professional serviceman. Ask the serviceman how the energy efficiency of the heating system can be increased.
If you plan to buy a new furnace, select an energy-efficient unit.
Consider the advantages of a clock thermostat for your heating system. The clock thermostat will turn the heat down for you automatically when you depart or go to bed and turn it up again when you return or awaken.
Insulate accessible heating ducts in unheated areas. Keep your fireplace damper closed unless you have a fire going. An open damper in a 48-inch square fireplace can let up to eight percent of your heat out the chimney.
Lower your thermostat to about 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night. But consider your individual circumstances, first. Some older individuals may need higher indoor temperatures at all times to avoid accidental hypothermia. People with circulatory problems or those taking certain types of medication may also need to keep temperatures higher.
Keep windows near your thermostat tightly closed. Unnecessary drafts will keep your furnance working after the rest of the room has reached a comfortable temperature.
Clean or replace the filter in a forced-air heating system each month.
If you have a forced-air system, check the duct work for leaks about once a year. Feel around the duct joints for escaping air when the fan is on. Small leaks can be repaired by covering holes or cracks with duct tape. Larger problems may require caulking as well as taping.
Don't let cold air seep into your home through the attic access door. Check to see that the door is well insulated and weatherstripped.
Keep drapes and shades open in sunny windows. Close at night.
For comfort on truly cold days, use the best insulation of all - warm clothes. The human body gives off heat, about 390 Btu's an hour for a man, 330 for a woman. Dressing wisely can help you maintain that natural heat. Wear closely woven fabrics. They add at least a half degree in warmth. For women, slacks are at least a degree warmer than skirts. For men and women, a light-long sleeved sweater equals almost two degrees in added warmth. A heavy long-sleeved sweater adds about four degrees, and two lightweight sweaters add about five degrees of warmth because the air between them serves as insulation to keep in more body heat.