Ways to Save

Weatherization is one of the easiest ways to make your home more energy efficient. Drive down your energy costs by properly weatherizing your property, using natural gas appliances and keeping water heaters in good shape.

If you’re looking for ways to get started weatherizing your home, the list of items below is a good place to start:

Outlet Gaskets

• Place caulk or foam between the electrical box and drywall on switches and outlets located on exterior walls. Then place these foam gaskets behind the plates for a good, airtight seal. 

Child Safety Caps

• Promote energy conservation and child safety by keeping drafts and your child’s favorite toys away from unused electrical outlets. 

Weather-Stripping

• If you have an attic access located within your home, make sure the access door is insulated and seals tight, much like a refrigerator. Use weather-stripping and screen door latches for a snug seal. 

Rope Caulk

• Caulk is best for gaps and cracks less than ¼” wide. Use a high-quality caulk to ensure durability and longevity. And, if the caulked joint will be visible, consider using paintable caulk for a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

Window Insulator Kit

• Seal windows airtight to eliminate condensation, cold drafts and heat loss. These kits usually come with enough plastic shrink film and two-way tape to cover four average size windows. Use tape to hold the plastic film in place and then use a hair dryer to shrink the film, forming a smooth, thorough and tight finish.

Low-Flow Shower Head and Sink Aerator

• A family of four each showering five minutes a day can use about 700 gallons of water per week. Water conserving showerheads and faucet aerators can cut hot water use in half, saving about 14,000 gallons of water a year. 

Pipe Insulation

• Insulated pipes keep the hot water that exists in pipes warm. When properly insulated, you don't have to wait as long for hot water and use less of it, too - reducing waste and saving money.

Water Heater Jacket Cover

• A water heater jacket can reduce up water heating costs by up to 15% off and prevent energy loss. 

Silicone Caulk

• Silicone caulk helps fill cracks and gaps where air can enter or escape your home. 

Toilet Tank Displacement Device

• Control the amount of water used to flush your toilet and save hundreds of gallons of water each year.

Foundation Vent Cover

• Help keep cold air out of your basement or crawl space by covering vents during the winter. Foundation vents help keep your floors warm and ultimately keeps your heating bills down. 

Shower Head On/Off Switch

• Turn off or lower the flow of your shower when you need less. Perfect for reducing water waste when shaving.

Fiberglass Insulation

• An R-value is a material's resistance to heat flow and tells you how well a type of insulation can prevent heat from flowing into or out of your home. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation performance, adding more savings to your heating and cooling bills. The R-value you need depends on where in the house the insulation is being placed. For example, you might be insulating interior or exterior walls, attics and crawlspaces, a garage or ceilings. 

Make sure your furnace stays in winter-ready condition. We recommend an annual inspection by a qualified contractor, which should include:

• Making sure the blower bearings and blower motor are lubricated according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Visually inspecting all vents, heat exchanger, and motor.
• Clearing the furnace area of any dust or combustible materials.
• Testing the thermostat.
• Cleaning dust from the blower compartment.
• Checking the flue to make sure it’s clean and open.
• Checking the pilot light, if your furnace has one.

Here are some things you can do for your appliances:

• Have appliances professionally installed and serviced.
• Ensure your appliances are well ventilated. In particular, check the venting of your water heating system.
• The gas flame in your appliances should burn a healthy bright blue or blue-orange, never a sluggish yellow.
• If a pilot light goes out, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for relighting: turn off the appliance and allow any accumulated natural gas to vent before relighting.

Find a contractor in your area who can help you.

You can get started saving money and energy right now by following these tips:

Ranges

• When you’re cooking, adjust the flame to fit the bottom of the pot or pan. Turning up the flame beyond the bottom wastes energy.
• Keep the burner surfaces clean.
• Cover pots and pans with lids when cooking.
• Cook food at high heat to bring to temperature then reduce to complete cooking.

Sinks and Showers

• Fix leaky faucets.
• Install low volume showerheads and faucets.

Washers and Dryers

• Use a water-level setting that matches the size of the load you’re washing.
• Select the proper setting and time for the clothing type and load size.
• In your dryer, separate heavier clothes (towels, heavy cottons) from the lightweight fabrics (synthetics) for more efficient drying. Be sure not to overload your dryer.
• Clean the dryer’s lint filter before/after every load.
• Don't add wet clothes during the drying cycle.
• Use the automatic moisture control if your dryer has one, or select the appropriate amount of time to dry. Check the load from time-to-time while drying to make sure you're not over-drying your clothes.
• Be sure the outside dryer vent is free of any obstructions and the vent cover fully opens when the dryer is in use.

Water Heaters and Furnaces

• Lower the temperature setting on your water heater to 120 degrees.
• Put an insulation wrap around the sides of your water heater. However - NEVER put insulation on top of the heater or near the bottom.
• Add insulation in your attic.
• Lower the thermostat when no one is home.
• Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature each day.
• Clean or replace all filters once a month.
• Have the system inspected and maintained regularly.
• Keep heating and return vents free of all obstructions for proper airflow.

For more great tips, check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Savers site.