This has been a brutal winter already on Long Island, but we have some simple tips to maximize your energy savings and skip that nasty surprise when you open your LIPA bill.
Ideas to keep hot air in and cold air out are often common sense and simple, but easily overlooked. Dedicate just a little bit of time and you’ll be surprised just how much energy savings result. And it doesn’t matter whether you have a furnace, which heats air to heat your home, or a boiler, which heats water and distributes it throughout your house to get the temperature up when the thermometer drops.
First off, many houses in Nassau County are now aging, so it’s important to check your house for air leaks, and seal them. Check around doors and windows for that telltale breeze, and break out the caulking gun. And don’t forget there may be hidden holes in your attic and your basement. For a comprehensive survey of where those hidden leaks might be, give us a call.
Next on the list of energy savings tips is keeping an eye on your home’s ductwork. Leaky or dirty ducts and poor connections will keep your furnace working overtime to try to heat your home. And leaky pipes in a boiler system can end up costing you thousands in repairs due to water damage!
So you’ve patched the leaks, and your ducts are clean? An older system may be burning excess energy due to outdated technology, or simply because it’s starting to get worn out. It may be time to upgrade to a new system.
But, finally, the simplest remedy is often the best one. Save money and energy by turning your thermostat down.
T.F. O’Brien services the Long Island, New York area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about preventive maintenance and other HVAC topics, please download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
