Thursday, October 9, 2008

MAKING YOUR HOME READY FOR WINTER

It is that time of year again when we all have to start thinking about our heat bills. I know most of us don't read the inserts that come with our bills, but I did read some interesting tips provided by national grid and I thought I would share them with you. After all, with all that is going on in our world, what ever we can do to save money and energy should take priority. Now is the time to take steps to prepare our heating systems and homes for winter.
1.) Have your furnace chimney flue, space heaters, water heater and fireplace checked.
2.) Clear space around heat registers, appliance vents and exhaust ducts.
3.) Clear chimneys and vents of bird or squirrel nests, leaves and other debris.
4.) Make sure that the exhaust and air intake vents of natural gas appliances are not blocked. These vents, which are located on the roof, and on the ground around the outside foundation walls for direct-vent gas appliances, should be kept clear of snow and debris.
5.) Seal any holes or cracks that let in old air. Caulk around windows and replace any broken panes on storm doors and windows. Weatherstrip around doorframes.
6.) Check insulation in your attic, walls, ceilings and floors, and add insulation as needed where you can.
7.) Remove window air-cnditioning units to reduce drafts during the cold months. If this isn't possible, cover all sides of the unit with plastic. For more ways to save on winter energy bills visit www.nationalgridus.com.

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