TIP OF THE WEEK!

MANAGE THE MOISTURE

Eliminating drafts and air leaks may help your energy bill this winter, but don't trade one problem for another by sealing in stale, un-healthy air. Make sure exhaust fans in bathrooms, laundry rooms and exercise rooms get used for at least 20 minutes after each use. Even better - put the fans on timers so they shut off automatically. The EPA states that ideal moisture levels should be around 35%; higher levels may indicate that excess moisture could be trapped inside - causing potentially harmful mold and mildew to grow.

TIPS FROM THE PAST

FIND THE DRAFT

Nothing makes a Chicago winter longer than being chilled in your own home. Not necessary! Use a low VOC multi-purpose caulk around leaks and gaps at floor board joints, window frames, outlets, air vents -- anywhere you feel winter coming in.  This can increase a home's energy efficiency by 5 - 25%.  That means a savings of potentially several hundred dollars a year.  Not to mention the increased comfort in your home.

INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT

If you are still using an old fashioned dial thermostat you are playing roulette with your home's energy bills.  They simply do not give you enough control over your home's temperature, and they only work if you manually adjust them each and every time you leave or enter your home. That's what we call high maintenance! With a programmable thermostat you can set your furnace and AC temps to fit your schedule.  Every degree you "dial down" in the winter or "dial up" in the summer can literally save you $100s each year.

INSULATE OUTLETS AND SWITCHES!

For 10 cents and 10 minutes each, you can completely eliminate drafts coming from behind all of those switch plates in your home.  Each on of those represents and actual penetration into the wall, and an obvious place for cold air to seep in.  This truly is one of the easiest things you can do to reduce energy loss!

WRAP THE WATER HEATER!

Doing this helps keep the water in it hotter longer, enabling it to work less and deliver hot water faster.  Thus, an insulated "blanket" around your water heater acheives 2 goals - energy efficiency and comfort.  The less your water heater "works" to deliver that hot shower to your teenager, the more money you save, and the happier she'll be when the water doesn't go cold on her.  A win-win for the whole family.

SAVING WATER IS EASY!

Faucet aerators are the easiest, least expensive way to save both water and money. These low-cost, easy to install items adjust the Gallons Per Minute (GPM) flow of standard fixtures from 4 - 7 GPM to 1 - 2 GPM. For each GPM reduction, the typical faucet uses 7,800 gallons LESS water every year. That's a savings of $30/faucet/year. Doesn't sound like much? Count up the number of faucets in your home AND consider that each faucet aerator costs less than $2 and can be installed in minutes. Sounds pretty simple, right! Check out more about Faucet Aerators at: