Small Improvements, Big Savings

Cold weather means using more energy to heat your home and for customers with baseboard heating, this can have a significant impact on the electricity bill. For example, a five-foot baseboard heater can cost up to $150 a month to operate. Most homes have more than one baseboard heater, so multiply $150 by how many baseboard heaters you have and you can see how quickly your monthly electricity bill can rise.

Here are 10 tips from Hydro One to help keep your house warm and your electricity bills down:

1. Fill the gaps. Check the trim on windows for gaps between the frame and your house. As much as 13 per cent of your home’s heat loss could be escaping through the gaps. If possible, stuff insulation between the window and frame or try caulking around the window.
2. On sunny winter days, trap warm air inside by opening window coverings to let the warmth of the sun in. Once the sun goes down, close window coverings to keep the warmth in. Think of your curtains as insulation for your windows.
3. Another inexpensive option is to build a barrier against cold by sealing your windows with plastic sheeting in the winter. All you need is a hair dryer, double sided tape and some inexpensive plastic sheeting. There is indoor and outdoor sheeting available.
4. If your doors aren’t properly fitted, air is leaking outside. Rubber weather stripping is an easy way to seal the door by creating a skirt on the door frame.
5. If you have a fireplace that you never use, consider getting it sealed as warm air is sucked out if the damper is open. If you do enjoy sitting by the fireplace, make sure you turn down your main thermostat. Fires can actually draw heat from the room up the chimney so your furnace has to work even harder.
6. Close off air registers in unused areas or rooms.
7. Move furniture away from air vents. Furniture placed over vents can block the flow of heat.
8. Install a programmable thermostat and try these settings:

• 21° (70°F) for relaxing
• 20° (68°F) for working/exercising
• 18° (64°F) for sleeping or away for the day
• 16° (61°F) when away on vacation

9. Make sure your furnace is running smoothly by:

• Checking all of your intake and exhaust air vents to make sure they are clear.
• Inspecting the filter. Hold it up to a light bulb and if you can’t see the bulb, it’s time for a new one.
• Clearing the area around your furnace to ensure it is ventilated with ample circulation of fresh air for combustion.
• Setting your furnace fan switch on “automatic” instead of “on” or “continuous.”

10. If your furnace is more than 18 years old, it may be more cost-effective to replace it with a new energy-efficient one.

Courtesy: Homeservice Club