Prepare Homes for Winter – Energy-saving and Safety Tips
As the temperatures fall, Safe Electricity encourages people to take steps now to improve both home energy efficiency and safety during the home heating season.
Energy dollars can pour out of homes through drafty doors, windows, un-insulated attics, walls, floors, and basements while safety risks go unnoticed. A small investment of time now can pay big dividends in keeping your home safe and warm this winter.
"Most winterizing steps can pay for themselves relatively quickly with heating bill savings," says Molly Hall, executive director of the Energy Education Council (EEC). "Weather stripping and caulking are inexpensive and among the simplest, most effective ways to boost efficiency and cut energy costs year round.”
"As you take steps to winterize your home, you can also inspect for electrical hazards and eliminate electrical fire and shock risks," adds Jay Solomon, University of Illinois Extension Engineering Educator. "For example, as you check around outlets and other places where air can leak, also check for overloaded outlets and cover plates that are warm to the touch."
Approximately one-third of all house fires nationwide occur during the cold, home-heating season. Many of these winter fires can be attributed to faulty and improper use and maintenance of heating equipment.
Before firing up your heating system, make sure furnace and heaters are in good working order, and check ducts, flues and chimneys. Have a professional inspect and service your furnace each fall for safety and efficiency. Regularly clean or replace furnace filters during high winter use. An efficient heating system means greater comfort at lower cost. Keeping heating equipment clean and in good repair will ensure peak efficiency and safety.
If an electric space heater is used, make sure the wiring is adequate, and check for cord fraying splitting wires, or overheating. Do not place a portable heater in high-traffic areas and keep it clear of flammables such as curtains, bedding, clothes and furniture. Never use extension cords with electric heaters.
Use these tips to help cut costs and improve home safety:
- Make sure attics and flooring above unheated spaces, such as crawl space and garage, are appropriately insulated.
- Find air leaks in homes by moistening fingertips and running them around doors or window frames to feel a draft, or hold up a tissue and see if it waves. Check around fixtures that penetrate walls, such as exhaust fans and electrical outlets, and look for gaps near dryer vents, chimneys and faucet pipes. Seal them all with caulking or weather-stripping.
- Replace screens with storm windows and doors. Double-paned glass plays an important role in reducing heat loss. Double-pane windows with low-e coating can reduce heating bills by 34 percent in cold climates compared to uncoated, single-pane windows. If you have older or leaky windows that you cannot replace, consider temporary fixes, such as plastic film kits that create the effect of an interior storm window.
- If you are shopping for new windows, glass doors, or skylights, look for the ENERGY STAR. Today’s high-efficiency windows are 40 percent more energy efficient than standard, windows and can cut heating and cooling costs by 15 percent.
- Consider replacing your furnace if it is more than 30 years old. Furnaces that old are usually less than 50 percent energy efficient.
- Install an automatic thermostat. An easy-to-install clock thermostat can automatically raise and lower home temperatures for energy savings day and night.
“Don’t overlook simple energy-saving steps such as opening curtains to let sunshine warm your home, and closing them at night to keep warmth in,” reminds Hall, “and make sure fireplace dampers are closed when not in use,” she says. “These are effective energy-saving tips that cost you nothing.”
While you winterize, use this electrical safety checklist:
- Check outlets and make sure they are not overloaded. Have a professional replace worn and outdated circuitry, and add enough outlets for appliances and electronics. Switch plates and outlets that are warm to the touch; frequent circuit breaker trips or blown fuses; dimming lights and shrinking monitors are electrical danger signs that should be inspected immediately by a licensed professional.
- Examine electrical cords for cracks, frays and damaged plugs, and don’t run under rugs, furniture or behind baseboards.
- Check that light bulbs are proper wattage and securely screwed in light fixtures, so bulbs do not overheat and burn shades, drapes or nearby furniture.
- Make sure outlets in wet locations such as bathrooms, kitchen laundry and outdoors have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), and test and reset them monthly. If these outlets do not have GFCIs, have them professionally installed.
- Test your smoke detector batteries. Replace them if they are more than six months old.
"These steps help reduce the risk of fire, shock, injury or death," Hall said.