Home energy maintenance is crucial to reduce energy bills during the winter.

Home Energy maintenance Tip 1:
Air Filters

This winter, do not forget the filters of your heating equipment. Filters should be cleaned or changed on a regular basis.

Pay attention to dirty air filters, to avoid larger energy bills and equipment failures. Cleaning or changing the air filters on a regular basis is simple and provide significant energy savings.

See:
Efficient New Furnaces
New Heat Pumps

Home Energy maintenance Tip 2:
Servicing your heating system

Keep your heating equipment clean, lubricated and well-tuned. Have a good HAVC contractor clean and service your heating system.

An annual service call is crucial to keep your heating system well-tuned. The energy savings will largely pay the heating and cooling contractor...

Home Energy maintenance Tip 3:
Fixing air Leaks

This winter, pay attention to air leaks.

Small openings and cracks around doors and windows, or in fireplaces and chimneys, should be caulked.

But pay also attention to other less noticeable, but often more important, sources of infiltration and energy loss: those associated to the attic, basements, ducts and plumbing...

Small gaps and holes can be sealed using silicone, urethane, latex or other caulks, but medium gaps demand polyurethane or other foams, while larger openings require air barriers and the movable parts in doors and windows are sealed using weatherstripping materials.

See for details:
Home air leaks and home air sealing
Window weatherstripping

Home Energy maintenance Tip 4:
Ducts

If you have a furnace or heat pump or other forced air system, inspect your ductwork. Leaky ducts are an important cause of energy loss. Sealing them can save you $100 or more per year, and you will get more comfort.

Inspect - and seal, if it is the case - the openings in the air handler units, the register boot, seams and connections, and the joints where ducts meet. Do not underestimate hard-to-reach places and disconnected parts.

See:
Duct sealing

Home Energy maintenance Tip 5:
Low-flow showerheads and faucets, Pipes and Tank

This winter, consider low-flow faucets and showerheads. They will cut your hot water expenses - typically up to 10% of water heating bills...

Be also aware to your hot water tank, if you have one. Old tanks with little internal insulation should be wrapped with jacket insulation (just be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered, when insulating).

In unconditioned spaces, insulate your water pipes - both hot-water and cold water pipes. Pipe insulation tapes are available in hardware stores. The first 5 feet of pipe coming out of the top of the water heater should be carefully insulated.

See: Pipe insulation

Home Energy maintenance Tip 6:
hoses, kitchen exhaust fan

This winter, do not forget the hoses of your appliances. Inspect the hoses of your washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator… Look for cracks and anomalies. Replace hoses with signs of leakage.

Also clean the kitchen exhaust fan and its air filter. It can prevent fire hazards and provides lower energy bills.

Home Energy maintenance Tip 7:
Storm Windows and doors

Installing storm windows (and storm doors) in old and poorly air sealed and insulated windows can be a cheap and energy-efficient investment.

Storm units can help reduce the cost of heating during the winter in older homes with outdated windows and doors; if their replacement with new efficient windows or exterior doors is too expensive to you, consider storm windows and doors.

See: Storm Windows Basics and Storm Doors

Home Energy maintenance Tip 8:
Replacing Incandescent light bulbs

Why not replace your old incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, or LED bulbs, this winter?

The argument of a colder type of lighting is a myth. Newer CFL bulbs may involve warm tones, indistinguishable from incandescent.

Each CFL bulb saves about $6 in electricity costs per year (besides being much more environmentally-friendly), and will last 5-10 times more... So, why not replacing your old incandescent lights with CFLs bulbs, or consider new LED?

See:
New CFL light bulbs
LED lighting

Home Energy maintenance Tip 9:
Gutters and Slabs

Check for loose or leaky gutters... Improper drainage will lead to crawl space damages... Pay attention to how the downspouts drain. They should drain away from the foundation, and be clear and free of debris...

Examine the concrete slabs for signs of cracks and movement. Slabs, like the downspouts, should drain away from the home's foundation. Cracks should be caulked with a silicone caulk or proper concrete crack filler.

Home Energy maintenance Tip 10:
Chimney and fireplace caulking

Inspect your chimney and fireplace for signs of damage. The flue should be cleaned and inspected. Fireplaces and chimneys are important sources of air leakage, namely through their joints and openings. Chimney and fireplace caulking can avoid heat escaping. See: Fireplace and chimney caulking.

See also:

 

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