Heat loss can cost lots of cool cash

As I travel around both counties I’ve notice how people heat their home. Being ever conscious of cost not only for my business but in my personal life; heating of my home, office and storage buildings can and does become very expensive. I’m constantly looking for ways to control those costs through various techniques and personal habits. In this week’s article I thought I would share with you, the reading audience, some of those tricks that I personally use. Hopefully you will find them beneficial as well.

• Maintaining a constant temperature. This myth, I think supported by energy companies, suggests that you maintain a constant temperature in your home even when you are sleeping or away at work. If you drop the temperature during these conditions you will save 10 to 15 percent over the year. Yes, it will take longer to heat the environment to a comfortable level; however, 20 minutes versus, 8 hours generates lots of savings. When you’re gone drop the heat to 55 degrees and save those hard-earned dollars.
• Some folks will come home and immediately turn up the heat to 78 degrees thinking the house will heat up faster. The truth is the heating system put out heat at a constant rate until it reaches that temperature. By cranking up the heat you will overheat the home unnecessarily costing you lots of bucks.
• Fire places waste lots of energy if the flue is left open when not in use. Cold air can be sucked down the chimney reducing the temperature of the home, again costing money.
• Some folks use space heaters in small spaces because they think it is cheaper. Aside from the fire hazard, space heaters use lots of electricity, which is expensive. It is far cheaper in the long run to have an HVAC technician install a vent into the area.
• One of the big cost savings areas is window replacement. When I do energy loss review of someone’s home, the windows always show massive energy loss. Installing new windows ultimately will save you big bucks in energy loss.
• I’ve had many people say “My heating system is too small for my home.” My general response is normally to suggest they winterize their home first. Winterization of your home will normally reap substantial financial benefits and save you the cost of a new heating system. Of course, if it breaks and can’t be fixed, then replace it.
• Rolling up a bath towel and placing it at the bottom of the exterior door will save you huge dollars. Check it out, close the door and wait a few minutes then bend down and feel the space between the door and the floor. I think you will be surprised.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES (255-2266), e-mail them to nwees@hughes.net or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed do? For more information about Ed, go online to www.nwees.com.

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified indoor environmental professional, forensic, fire, flood, mold Inspection and remediation/restoration contractor. Ed is the president of Northwest Environmental Services, Inc.