Matt Weber
Matt Weber is editor of Home Improvement & Repairs magazine based in Birmingham, Alabama.
Find more at www.homeimprovementandrepairs.com.
Program your thermostat. Upgrading your HVAC (heating-ventilation-air-conditioning) thermostat to a programmable model is good advice, yet many homeowners forget to set the thermostat’s schedule. Life can get busy during the holidays, and it can be easy to forget to make manual adjustments. A thermostat programmed to adjust the temperature when you’re at home, when you’re away, and when you’re sleeping will increase the system’s efficiency and lower energy bills.
Matt Weber
Replacing your HVAC filter is common advice, but do you understand why it’s so important? When a dirty filter gets blanketed with dust and debris, the accumulation restricts airflow through the system. Have you ever tried to breathe through a blanket? Just as your lungs must work harder to get adequate air, a dirty filter causes your HVAC system to work harder to warm the house to the temperature you have set. When the system works harder, it puts extra wear on the components and uses more energy, which raises your energy bill.
Matt Weber
Seal all the gaps. Warm air leaking out around poorly sealed window frames, power outlets, recessed lights, and other gaps can be a big source of heat loss. Use caulk or expanding foam to seal up unwanted holes in your home. These adhesive products work well around non-moving areas such as pipe intrusions and window frames. For the parts that move, such as doors and windowpanes, seal gaps at the edges with weatherstripping, such as foam tape for windows or aluminum strips which include a linear bulb that compresses against a closed door. Here’s a DIY tip: Move a lit candle around the edges of closed doors and windows, and if you see the flame flicker, this might indicate that a draft needs to be sealed.
Consider adding insulation. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that homes in central Alabama have an insulation “R-value” of R-30 to R-60, based on the climate and type of HVAC system installed. “R-value” refers to the insulation’s ability to prevent heat from escaping. Different types of insulation have different R-values. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation power. For example, 1 inch of fiberglass batt has an R-value of approximately R-3, whereas 1 inch of spray foam may have an R-value of 5.5. Measure your insulation, calculate it by type, and you may find that you need more. You can hire a contractor or add extra layers yourself. Home centers sometimes rent blowing machines, which homeowners can use to add loose-fill insulation to attics. If you add extra layers of rolls or batts over existing attic insulation, be sure to use “unfaced” rolls or batts. You can install an additional layer of unfaced insulation over the ceiling joists to reduce heat loss through the wood.
A few more simple tips: Thick curtains help to insulate windows at night, and the sun’s energy can heat your home during the day. Open your curtains at sunrise to make best use of “passive solar gain.” This works particularly well if your home has stone or concrete floors which have a large thermal mass, meaning they soak up heat and release it slowly. Close your curtains at dusk to trap the heat. You can also force heat downward with a ceiling fan. Cooler air stays closer to the ground, and warmer air rises, so reverse your ceiling fan’s setting to send the warm air downward into the room, raising the ambient temperature.