I heard we’re in for a rough winter. What can I do to prepare my home to save energy this year?
Regardless of weather forecasts, you won’t go wrong if you prepare your home now for colder weather. Your home will be cozier and you can cut energy use.
Heating systems
The majority of your home’s energy use in winter is in heating. That’s why it pays to have your heating system checked every couple of years.
“Older furnaces should probably be checked annually,” said Rick Cantonwine, Clark Public Utilities energy counselor. “Clean or replace furnace filters often. How often you have to clean them will depend on your lifestyle, whether you have pets or kids, and other factors.”
A professional inspection and tune-up can extend the life of your heat pump or furnace and improve its efficiency.
Typically a professional will check the heating unit, duct work, airflow and thermostat. In a gas-fired furnace, the professional should check all safety controls and clean the burners on the heat exchanger.
Homes with baseboard or wall heaters don’t need an annual inspection, but the heaters should be cleaned of dust at least once a year.
Air leaks
Sealing air leaks is probably the most cost-effective thing you can do to save energy. Energy Star estimates that residents of older homes can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs by sealing and insulating. Homes built in the last 10 to 15 years typically don’t leak enough to be too concerned, Cantonwine said.
The best way to find leaks is to hire a professional to conduct a blower door test, which typically costs about $125. The test shows where air is entering and leaving your home in gaps around windows and doors, attic accesses, the home’s foundation and where pipes and wires enter. Even tiny gaps around recessed lighting allow heat to escape into the attic area.
If you are a do-it-yourselfer, use spray foam to fill smaller gaps and cracks. Foams expand several times in volume, so do not overfill the cavity. Using a caulk gun, run a bead of caulking around windows and doors.
Insulation
Insufficient insulation in the attic or over a crawl space will result in loss of heat in a home. Batt insulation is relatively inexpensive and should be installed between ceiling joists in the attic. Cellulose, fiberglass or foam sprayed insulation is typically installed by a professional.
Today’s energy code in new homes calls for R-38 insulation in the attic and R-30 over crawl spaces. R values are a measure of the insulating capacity of the material.
“Insulation over a crawl space is just as important,” Cantonwine said. “We see homes that have attic insulation, but none in the floors, and then the homeowner wonders why the home is chilly.”
The Energy Adviser is written by members of the energy counselor team of Clark Public Utilities, who provide conservation and energy use information to utility customers. Send questions to energyadviser@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA. 98668. A panel of local energy efficiency and energy product specialists will review your questions. Previous topics are available at http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
