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Heating: Stay warm without getting fleeced
Consumer ReportsVideo  |
| CONSUMER NEWS |
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Energy costs
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| STACKED UP Warm air inside rises and increases air pressure. The difference between inside pressure and the lower pressure outside drives
warm air out through gaps in the attic and pulls cold air in through gaps in the basement or slab.
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Illustration by Troy Doolittle/
TopDog Illustration
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While you can't lower the price of the heating oil, natural gas, or electricity that heats your home, you can help the four
walls around you use far less of it. "Your home is consuming and probably wasting energy 24/7," says Tony Lisanti, director
of energy sales and service at Robison, a New York-based energy-services company. "The big savings are in making your home
more efficient."
Simply having your home's heating system checked annually can save wasted fuel costs. Here are other low- and no-cost ways
to make your home less fuelish:
Plug the big leaks first. Adding insulation and weather stripping can slash your annual energy costs up to 30 percent by keeping out the cold or heat
and minimizing the stack effect (see illustration).
Start by sealing large gaps around chimneys, furnace flues, plumbing pipes, ductwork, light fixtures, and soffits in your
attic. Then lay insulation between attic-floor joists and on the hatch or door, or add more if it's already there. Also look
for dirty insulation, a sign of air movement that reveals other gaps you must fill. Also insulate ducts running through the
attic.
Seal air leaks in the basement as well. Insulate ceilings in unheated basements and around the walls in heated basements or unvented crawl spaces. Also be sure to
insulate ducts and hot-water pipes.
Program thermostats for savings. Shave up to 20 percent off your heating costs by lowering your home's thermostat 5 degrees at night and 10 degrees during
the day if no one is home. Most electronic setback thermostats let you set different schedules for each day. Many automatically
switch from heating to cooling, and some tell you when it's time to change your furnace or air conditioner filters.
Be sure billing options work. Many utilities and heating-fuel suppliers tout level-billing plans and deals that let you "lock in" fuel prices at earlier
rates as a hedge against huge winter bills. In reality, level billing simply divides your estimated annual bill equally over
the next 12 months. Our advice: Keep the extra cash in your bank account, where it will earn interest. Though fuel lock-in
plans can be a good deal if prices are rising, beware of surcharges and cancellation fees, which can eliminate any real savings.
Make ventilation a priority. Sealing leaks isn't about eliminating ventilation. It's about bringing air in where and when you need it. Adequate venting
helps control moisture and avoid indoor air-quality problems (never block attic vents with insulation, for example). Once
you've made your home more energy-efficient, have a heating and cooling technician check gas- or oil-fired furnaces, boilers,
water heaters, and dryers for proper venting. Install a carbon-monoxide (CO) alarm on each floor.
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