The fall colors and cooler evenings are a clear indicator that winter is just around the corner. While winterizing your wardrobe may not be complicated, preparing your home before old man winter arrives can be a different story. As the days get colder, the last thing you want is a frigid home.
To ensure a safe and comfortable heating season, New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) encourages customers to start getting their homes ready for the winter ahead. Properly preparing your home for cold weather can help save energy, keep your winter energy bills under control and ensure that you and your family stay warm when temperatures drop.
As you prepare for the heating season, here are some things to keep in mind:
• Add insulation to your attic. It’s one of the most cost-effective ways to make your home more comfortable. Also, check the insulation in your basement walls, floors and crawl space to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area by the Department of Energy.
• Seal gaps and weather strip to significantly reduce energy loss. Air infiltrates in and out of your home from every hole, nook and cranny. Warm air leaking out of your home during the winter can waste a lot of energy and dollars. Now is also the time to check your carbon monoxide (CO) detector. When homes are sealed up against cold weather, there is greater chance of dangerous build up of CO. Remember to replace your CO detector every five to seven years as per manufacturers’ recommendations.
• Ensure your heating system is operating at peak performance. A preseason inspection and routine maintenance performed by a professional heating contractor can help ensure your heating system is operating efficiently and effectively. You can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment.
• Inspect your furnace’s air filter. Clean or replace your furnace’s air filter once a month, or as needed, to increase efficiency. A dirty or clogged filter will demand more energy and slow down the heating process.
• Keep the fireplace damper closed when your fireplace is not in use. An open flue allows heat to escape right up the chimney.
• Use a programmable thermostat and keep it at a moderate temperature in the winter. Every 24-hour period the heat is lowered by one degree can result in a three percent savings on your heating bill.
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