tips to keep comfort in your home & office
- Try setting your thermostat between 72°F and 78°F. Each degree setting below 78°F will increase your energy consumption by approximately 8%, which can add up to a lot of money over a year.
- Try to not use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating. The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner to work harder, which in turn increases your utility bill.
- To keep your drains from clogging, run hot water down them every couple of weeks.
- Installing clear plastic barriers or storm windows on your existing windows can cut heat loss by 25% to 50% by creating an insulating dead-air space inside the window. Storm windows cost about $7.50 to $12.50 per square foot. Exterior storm windows will increase the temperature of the inside window by as much as 30°F on a cold day, keeping you more comfortable.
- For any septic tanks use very minimum amounts of chemical detergents, bleach, etc. The best detergents to use are biodegradable.
- A water heater needs to be drained every 6 months to remove sediment.
- Your garbage disposal can create foul odors from all kinds of food debris inside. If you place lemon peels in the disposal and run cold water for 25 minutes, it should help eliminate the odors.
- Attach a timer to an outside faucet to prevent excessive watering of your lawn.
- To remove unsightly mineral deposits on your shower head, put one cup of vinegar in a plastic bag and place it over the shower head.
- Consider replacing a water heater that's more than 15 years old. (The first four digits of the serial number represent the month and year it was made.) Newer water heaters are more energy efficient.
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