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Home Efficiency Checklist For Spring
Home Efficiency Checklist For Spring
Posted: March 26, 2020
With the coronavirus keeping us home more than usual in the coming weeks, ensuring that your home and home comfort systems run efficiently and reliably is more important than ever. Here’s a checklist to help you plan what needs to be done to stay comfortable and keep bills as low as possible as we transition between seasons.
Efficiency checklist – Spring 2020
Thermostat
Set your thermostat at 68 degrees in heat mode when people are home for the best balance of comfort and energy savings; lower the temperature when no one is home, or when people are sleeping to maximize savings. Once cooling season arrives, target a thermostat setting of 78 degrees, raising temperatures when people are home.
Doors
When using your heating or cooling equipment, keep doors closed between conditioned and unconditioned spaces; check and replace seals around interior doors to keep conditioned air from escaping
Check door sweeps to make sure they are blocking drafts and keeping conditioned air inside your home.
Vents
When using your HVAC system, close vents in unused rooms
Keep vents clear of obstructions to ensure good airflow
Clean your vents with soap and water and a microfiber cloth to improve indoor air quality and reduce dust
Check your HVAC filter once a month, changing or cleaning it as necessary
Windows
Check and refresh caulking to prevent conditioned air from escaping
If you need a new oil heating system, consider installing it early in the season; early spring is often the best time to invest in a home heating system, since manufacturers usually offer great off-season incentives and convenient installation appointment times are more readily available.
Schedule your annual tune-up to avoid the late springtime rush
Water Heater
Consider resetting the temperature of the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees (default settings are often 140 degrees) to get the best balance of comfort and energy savings; for every 10 degrees you lower the temperature, you’ll save 3-5 percent on your bill, says the DOE. Keep the temperature at 140 degrees if someone in your home suffers from immune deficiency.
Test all alarms – smoke, CO, radon detectors, etc., replacing batteries if needed
Fireplace / Wood Stove
Close the damper to prevent heat from entering through the chimney
Schedule a chimney inspection to prevent hazards related to creosote buildup
If you need to have your heating oil-fired equipment serviced or replaced during this challenging time, Vaughn Oil is here for you. We follow the strictest standards for coronavirus safety and will make sure your family continues to be safe and comfortable as we transition to the warmer weather of spring. Contact us today to learn more about heating oil service in Rhode Island.