Seal Those Air Ducts

Air ducts have a high probability of wasted air, hot or cold, slipping out when the duct is not properly and tightly sealed down.  The U.S. Department of Energy reports that an average ten to thirty percent of conditioned or heated air escapes from ducts in your home.  The benefits of properly sealed ducts are well worth paying a professional technician to come into your home and fix any problems with your duct.  The American Solar Energy Society says a properly sealed air duct can save the average home up to one hundred and forty dollars every year, not to mention stronger protection against mold and dust.   Note that some services offer to clean your ducts, however, cleaning is only needed if you have a problem with your duct.   Also, despite its similar name, duct tape is not the proper way to seal your air duct.

Outdoor Refrigeration

Have you ever left your gallon of milk outside because your backyard was full of snow?  Households spend money each month to keep cold food when it gets very cold outside in the wintertime.  Consider taking on the task of creating an ambient air refrigerator on the side of your house.  The project entails building an insulated box that will attach to the outside of your house, preferably outside of your kitchen and to the outside of an opening to your house that is already there.   Keep your food chilled outside and turn off your refrigerator.

The Furnace Filter

An often forgotten about tool in the household is the furnace filter.  The furnace filter sits in place as months and months go by, commonly disregarded as it collects dust and filth.  This neglect is due to forgetfulness rather then disregard and going green is the way to solve this problem.  First off, cleaning or replacing these filters every month during the cold season when a household is utilizing the heat, will increase energy use.  The dirt in the filters serves only to restrict airflow, holding back some of the heat that would otherwise travel into the home.  Make a note in your calendar to change the filter, perhaps every time you pay the bill, you can also change the filter.

If that sounds like a daunting task, consider switching to a permanent filter, which will not only reduce the hassle every month, but will cut down on waste.  Disposable fiberglass filters catch a mere ten to forty percent of filth and dust while electronic filters catch in the vicinity of eighty eight percent.   A lesser-known fact about disposable fiberglass filters is that they were designed to remove the largest particles from the air, aiming to protect the heating equipment rather then the health of those using the heating equipment.  Electronic filters are superior to the disposable filters also when it comes to controlling the bacteria, mold, viruses and pollen that are known to cause illnesses and allergies.  Electronic filters, also known as Electrostatic Filters since they depend on the principle of static electricity, are also washable and easy to install.  They cost anywhere from fifty dollars to one thousand dollars for high-end models.

Another option for a filter is a genuine high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which can remove at least ninety-nine percent of particles, debris, dust and allergens in the air.  HEPA filters are based on Department of Energy standards.  Note that filters that are on the market that suggest they are like HEPA filters are often much less effective.

Heating equipment, like cars, require periodic tune-ups in order to run at full capacity, as they get older.   Maintain your furnace so that it will run at top shape during the winter.   Keep it clean, lubricated, and properly adjusted to reduce energy usage and to save up to five percent of heating costs.  Many utilities offer free annual check ups by qualified technicians.   Some furnace manufacturers and dealers offer free or discounted inspections.  Make sure you call early since most people tend to call in the wintertime and the HVAC (acronym that stands for “heating, ventilating, and air conditioning”) crews get backed up with all of the demand.

Winterize Your Air Conditioner and Water Lines

Did you know there is an easy way to winterize your air conditioner and water lines that will save you wear and tear on your cooling system?  All you have to do is drain all of your hoses and air conditioner pipes.  The key is to make sure you do not have any excess water pooled in the equipment.  Turn the water shutoff valve off on your air conditioner.  Keeping these tools dry will increase their life span and will help them run most effectively when you need them.