Are your energy costs driving you into the poor house? The average American family spends, in some cases, hundreds to thousands of dollars in extra energy costs in their homes every year. I think that we can all agree that we’d rather be saving our money or spending it on something else, like a great vacation or a new car. But there is good news! It is relatively simple to cut these unnecessary costs by making smart energy-efficient choices. Just don’t wait until the last minute…
I’ve compiled a list of the most important energy-saving tips to help you get the best performance while using the least amount of energy.
- To increase your heating and cooling system efficiency: Replace or clean system filters monthly and do not block registers and return vents with furniture or drapes.
- Keep the tank clean: About 20 percent of the energy used by the average home is used to heat water for showers, baths, washing machines, and dishwashers. So drain off the sediment in the bottom of your hot water heater.
- Check thermostat temperature: Set your thermostat to 68-70 degrees during the day in the winter, and 65-68 degrees at night to keep your home comfortable and save on heating costs.
- Limit your use of portable heaters: They’re great for “spot” heating, but running a 1,500-watt heater 24/7 can be expensive.
- Cover all bare floors: Carpeting or rugs add to comfort and heat retention, especially if there is little or no floor insulation.
- Replace worn washers in leaking faucets promptly: A faucet that leaks one drop of water every second wastes 200 gallons of water a month.
- Seal and insulate your air ducts: Heat loss from leaky, un-insulated ducts, especially those in unheated attics and basements, can reduce the efficiency of your heating system by as much as 30 percent.
- Make sure your hot water pipes are properly insulated: This guards against heat loss and gets hot water to your faucet faster.
- Appliances and electronics: Purchase energy-efficient products and operate them efficiently.
- Set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode: Instead of using the screen saver so it uses less electricity during periods of inactivity.
- Use motion-detector lights for all your outdoor lighting: They’re convenient and efficient. For additional savings, buy compact florescent bulbs for your motion detectors.
- Give your water heater a vacation too: When you leave your home for a weekend or longer, turn your electric water heater off.
- Find cold air leaks: Sealing off the drafty air leaks will cut down on energy costs and keep you warmer. Seal any gaps around utility cut-throughs where pipes are present and spaces that may be unfinished such as closets or cupboards. Add caulk to avoid window air leaks and weather stripping to leaky doors. On windy days, place your hand in front of your electrical outlets, if you feel air coming through, add electrical gaskets (it is like form core) to all your outlets.
- Heating system check-up: A heating system annual check will help your system to run efficiently. You may want to consider CENTRAL’S Comfort Care Program to provide you peace of mind. With this program we come out twice a year to take care of your Home’s Comfort System, as well as priority status with our Call Center.
- As your home begins to age, so does your heating/cooling system, water heaters, and such: Depending on the quality of the system that was installed in your home, we recommend replacement beginning around 10-15 years max. There are so many better systems out there today, efficiency wise and noise wise.
At Central we can save you time, by just making ONE phone call (NOW THAT IS CONVENIENT!) for all your Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Electrical and Drain Cleaning needs.
As always, your comfort is our Central concern. Call Central for all your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and drain cleaning needs at 756-6656.
Valentine Marshmallows
One bag of Large Marshmallows
Sucker Sticks
White Chocolate, I like the Hershey White Chocolate Bars
Red Sprinkles, in a bowl
Melt chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat, insert sucker sticks into the large marshmallows, and dip into the white chocolate
(not too hot), and then just take the top of the marshmallow and dip into the red sprinkles…
Enjoy, so easy, festive and kids love these.
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!