We're gonna be like two little Fonzies here. And what's Fonzie like? These changes can keep you cool and save you money. Use ceiling fans to help feel cooler and distribute the cool air. Check to make sure fireplace dampers are closed and fit tightly. Install an attic ventilator. An attic ventilating system draws cool air up through the house and may provide as much comfort as an air conditioner at a much lower cost. Use the system to "pump in" cool air during summer evenings, then seal up the house during the day. Attic ventilation is good for the heating season, too. Select a central air conditioning unit with the lowest suitable capacity and highest efficiency. Ask your dealer to help you determine what you need. Planting trees or shrubs that provide shade for your air-conditioning unit can increase efficiency by up to 10 percent. Do not place lamps or television sets near your thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from appliances, and that might cause the A/C to run longer than necessary.

Don't let a furnace pilot light burn all summer. If your furnace has a standing pilot light, have it replaced with an intermittent ignition device. Then it will use fuel only when necessary. Use vents and exhaust fans in the kitchen and laundry room to pull heat and moisture directly to the outside. Use awnings to keep the sun out of south-facing windows in the summers, You could even plan the overhangs so that they'll shade windows from the high summer sun but let in the lower winter sun.Medical Weight Loss Kelowna Periodic maintenance will keep your cooling system running efficiently.Oreck Vacuum Cleaners Where To Buy Make sure ducts in your air conditioning system are properly sealed and insulated, especially those that pass through the attic or other uncooled spaces.Pocket Beagle Puppies For Sale In Il

Clean or replace your air-conditioning filter each month during the cooling season. Set the air conditioner thermostat at 75 degrees Fahrenheit or higher — 78 degrees is more economical. Use a programmable thermostat that can automatically raise the thermostat setting at least five degrees when no one is home; 85 degrees is ideal. To adjust the thermostat manually, lower the setting a few degrees at a time rather than all at once. It's more economical — and comfortable — to raise the thermostat setting rather than turn off the air conditioner. Setting your thermostat colder than normal when you turn on the A/C will not cool your home faster. It will cool to a lower temperature than you need and use more energy. Keep blinds, shades and drapes closed during the hottest part of the day. Shut your windows during the hottest hours of the day.Standard incandescent light bulbs produce heat, so keep the lights low. Cook during the early morning or late evening hours.

Use cold water whenever possible. Close off unoccupied rooms by closing the vents and shutting the door. Lowering your water heater temperature a few degrees can save on energy usage. Move furniture away from the air registers, allowing for the free flow of cooled air. Turn off air conditioners when you leave the room for several hours. You will use less energy cooling the room later than if you leave it running. Trim bushes or plants near the outdoor air conditioning unit so air can circulate. Make sure the clothes dryer vent does not blow on the outdoor air conditioning unit. Keep storm windows closed when the air conditioning is operating. Locate room air conditioners on a north wall or a side of the building that's shaded. If you are using a window air conditioner, use a fan as well. It will spread cooled air without greatly increasing your power use. Consider replacing old, inefficient air conditioning equipment with a high-efficiency heat pump or air conditioning unit.

Heat pumps cool during the summer and provide heat during the fall and winter. Before buying an air conditioning unit or system, find out its Energy Efficiency Ratio. Divide the cooling capacity (measured in Btu's per hour) by its energy requirement (in watts). An EER of 10 or more is very good, 8 or 9 is good, and 6 or 7 is fair. For the best savings, look for an air conditioner with the highest EER and the smallest capacity that will meet your needs. Summer time is vacation time! When your house is vacant, your electric bill should go way down, right? Many things continue to run in your home whether you are there or not. Here are a few tips to help lower electric usage while you are away: Turn off your electric water heater Raise the temperature of your refrigerator to 42-45 degrees Put security lights on a timer Turn off the air conditioningHome » Why Natural Gas » Energy Saving Tips Put a vapor barrier such as polyethylene on top of the bare ground underneath your home to prevent your home from absorbing a lot of moisture.

Since between 25 percent and 33 percent of the energy used by an air conditioner goes into moisture removal, this can have a nice impact on your energy bill. Also, exhaust fans can help you remove the moisture that accumulates from cooking, bathing and washing clothes. Make storm windows out of sheets of plastic. For maximum effectiveness, we recommend a thickness of at least 6-mil. Stretch the plastic as tightly as possible to minimize air movement between the plastic and the window glass. Tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of your window frames if drafts, water condensation, and frost are present. Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing. Cover window air conditioners tightly on the inside with plastic or special air conditioner covers. Also weather-strip around the air conditioner to seal between it and the window frame. Seal leaks and caulk around windows, outside doors, baseboards, exhaust fans, dryer vents, places where pipes, ducts, and wires enter the house and where the walls meet the foundation, with caulking or weather-stripping.

Doing this may seem insignificant, but a crack just one-sixteenth of an inch wide around the circumference of an average-sized window lets about as much heated air escape as would a three-inch square hole in the wall. Also, in places where your old caulk has deteriorated, re-caulk to make an airtight seal. Use insulated or heavy curtains, especially on windows facing north. Put up thermal shades or shutters. They close very tightly and are one of the most effective ways to stop heat loss through windows. Replace broken windowpanes immediately. Cover the open pane temporarily with a tight-fitting piece of cardboard. If you have a cracked pane, tape the crack with weather-stripping or freezer tape until you are able to fix it. Weather-strip doors and windows, even the doors of rooms you're not using, as well as closet doors. Felt strips with adhesive backing or plastic V-strips with adhesive backing are available at hardware and home improvement stores. If there is a gap at the bottom of the door, attach a simple door sweep to seal it off.

Door-shoes or insulating thresholds last longer, but are harder to install. Weather-strip any of your interior doors that lead to such places as the garage, basement or attic. For added efficiency, insulate them on the cold side with fiberglass batts. If you have ceiling fans, make sure the mountings are snug and tight. Use clear caulking to seal any leaks. Even minor cracks around the base can let in lots of cold air. Install flow restrictors or low flow faucets and low flow showerheads. This device can cut the cost of taking a hot shower in half. It generally costs less than a dollar, is easily inserted into the showerhead and cuts the flow of water virtually in half. Purchase some inexpensive, pre-cut insulation gaskets and seal out the cold air entering your home through electrical switches and outlet plates, particularly those on outside walls. Stuff batt insulation or add foam sealant into any gaps where pipes and ducts enter the living space from unheated portions of your home.

Insulate ducts and hot water pipes that pass through unheated areas. Start with one or two and do others as you can. Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior walls, basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area. One of the more cost effective ways to make your home more comfortable year-round is to add insulation in the attic. Add insulation whenever possible, perhaps just a little bit at a time. Eventually you will have improved the whole house.v Insulate your electric water heater tank and pipes. Most experts recommend not adding insulation to a gas-fueled water heater as this can create a fire hazard. Check your ducts for air leaks. First look for sections that have separated and then look for obvious holes. Insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces is usually very cost effective. Ducts are a hidden savings opportunity. You can lose up to 60% of your heated air before it reaches the register if your ducts aren't insulated and they travel through unheated spaces such as the attic or crawlspace.