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Most
folks work hard for their money. Why sit by while it slips through the cracks?
There are simple and inexpensive steps that you can take to make your home
more energy efficient and these solutions often bring big returns. As a bonus,
they benefit the environment as well as the family piggy bank. In this article
we look at some simple and inexpensive ways to reduce energy consumption in
the home.
Insulating your water heater
If you always have plenty of hot
water, you may be able to get by with lowering your water heater's
thermostat setting. Just don't lower it below 120° F. Electric
heaters benefit most from this approach to saving energy. Timers
are also available which allow you to make the water heater
conform to your water usage schedule. They prevent the water
heater from trying to maintain hot water during periods when it is
never used.
Water
heaters are insulated, but you can always add to that. For a small
investment, you can significantly reduce the amount of heat lost
by the unit, particularly if your water heater is located in an
unheated area. Inexpensive insulating blanket kits for water
heaters are available; or, if you wish, you can make your own. If
you make your own you will need a roll of duct tape and faced
fiberglass insulation.
• Cut
strips of insulation the same length as the
circumference of the water heater.
• Wrap
the insulation horizontally around the unit using duct tape to
seal the seams where they meet.
• Make
cutouts to leave the thermostat, controls and drain faucets
exposed.
• If
you have an electric water heater, cut a cap of insulation to fit
the top. Provide slits for the water inlet and outlet pipes.
• If
you have a gas water heater, do not cover the burner access or the
flue collar. Leave about 2" of exposed area around the flue
collar.
• Tape
any remaining joints and seams.
Pipe Wrapping
Do your water pipes pass through an
unheated area? Do they run under your house or from an unheated
utility room? If so, insulate your pipes—at least the hot water
pipes. Uninsulated hot water pipes lose heat and cause your water
heater to work harder. While the same is not true of cold water
pipes, insulating them can prevent them from sweating and dripping
in heated areas, or freezing in unheated areas.
 Easy to
use, pre-formed foam pipe insulation sleeves are available. These
sleeves have a slit down their length and just snap in place on
the pipes. Cut them to length to fit as closely as possible at all
ends, corners and junctions. With a little imagination, you can
cut miters and angles in the material in such a way that the
insulation completely covers any junctions. Cover the slits and
joints with vinyl duct tape.
Replacing
Furnace Filters
People in the heating and air
conditioning business are always talking about the importance of
changing furnace filters. There must be a reason.
Most furnace filters are inexpensive,
disposable and easily replaced. There is no good reason to neglect
them. On the other hand, clogged filters reduce airflow through
the heating/cooling system, forcing the unit to work harder.
Severely clogged filters can cause the unit to overheat and can
lead to premature compressor damage in air conditioning systems.
Check your furnace filter monthly. In
fact, some people say that if you are going to go to the trouble
to pull it out and look at it, you might as well go ahead and
replace it. If you use the more expensive disposable filters
designed to filterout allergens and extremely small particles, you
may want to hold the filter up to make sure light still comes
through it easily, but even these filters should be replaced at
least every three months.
Self-charging electrostatic filters
that require no electricity are available. They filter out
extremely small particles and last for several years. This type of
filter should be cleaned by rinsing from the clean side once a
month.
Making Your Home More
Energy Efficient - Part 2 |
