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Home Efficiency Checklist For Spring
Home Efficiency Checklist For Spring
Posted: March 26, 2020
Spring is upon us here in Central Maine – make sure you’re prepared for the waning chilly days and the warmer days and nights ahead!
Here’s a checklist to help you get a handle on what needs to be done to keep your home comfortable and running efficiently as we transition between seasons.
Consider installing new heating equipment early in the season: spring is often the best time to invest in a home heating system, since manufacturers usually offer great off-season incentives and convenient installation appointment times are more readily available.
Cooling system
Consider having your annual tune-up to avoid the late springtime rush.
Thermostat
If you’re using your heating system, set your thermostat at 68 degrees when people are home for the best balance of comfort and energy savings; lower the temperature when no one is home, or when people are sleeping to maximize savings. Once cooling season arrives, target a thermostat setting of 78 degrees, raising temperatures when when people are home.
Vents
When using your HVAC system, close vents in unused rooms
Clear obstructions from vents to keep air moving
Check your HVAC filter once a month, changing or cleaning it as necessary
Doors
When using your HVAC equipment, keep doors closed between conditioned and unconditioned spaces; check and replace seals around interior doors to keep conditioned air from escaping
Check door sweeps to make sure they are blocking drafts and keeping conditioned air inside your home.
Windows
Check caulking on window frames to prevent conditioned air from escaping
Clear window tracks so windows seal properly
Window treatments
Consider using window treatments that support the goals of your home’s climate system, such as insulated treatments in cooler weather and reflective treatments during the hotter months. Learn more about efficiency-enhancing window hacks here.
Generator
If you have a whole house generator, have it professionally serviced; run it at least once every three months to keep it in working order (increase that frequency to once a month during the cold winter months to keep parts lubricated)
Make sure you have enough propane to last at least one week in the event of a springtime power outage (if you don’t, schedule a propane delivery).
Water Heater
Consider resetting the temperature of the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees (default settings are often 140 degrees) to get the best balance of comfort and energy savings; for every 10 degrees you lower the temperature, you’ll save 3-5 percent on your bill, says the DOE. Keep the temperature at 140 degrees if someone in your home suffers from immune deficiency.
Test all alarms – smoke, CO, radon detectors, etc., replacing batteries if needed
Fireplace / Wood Stove
Close the damper to prevent heat from entering through the chimney
Schedule a chimney inspection to prevent hazards related to creosote buildup
Spring is a great time to replace your home heating system – if you’re ready to take the plunge, contact Murray-Heutz Oil and Propane to learn more about expert home heating system installations in Androscoggin County, ME, or to schedule routine maintenance for your furnace or boiler!