|
 
Avoid Winter Heating Woes
By Robert Thomas
While Americans are feeling the pinch of spiraling
gasoline prices now, they may be in for a bigger shock when they
get the bill for heating their homes this winter.
Now is the time to act to head off those wallet-busting
heating bills, said Michael Goldschmidt, University of Missouri
architect and design specialist.
The U.S.
Energy Information Administration had projected that retail
heating oil prices will be at least 17 percent higher this winter
compared to last year. Natural gas, used to heat more than half
of U.S. households, and propane are expected to rise by a similar
amount.
These estimates are likely to be low, analysts
now say, pointing out the added impact on energy costs caused
by Hurricane Katrina.
A good place to begin economizing is with
your furnace. Furnaces should be checked and cleaned by a professional
at least every two years. Oil furnaces should be cleaned by a
qualified technician yearly, said Goldschmidt.
Having your furnace serviced by a reputable
specialist before the start of each heating season could reduce
your fuel bill by as much as 10 percent.
If the furnace is fired by oil or gas, make
sure the furnace and flue outlets are cleaned, filters are cleaned
or changed and the motor is in good working order. Check furnace
filters every two months during the heating season.
Reducing air infiltration and having adequate
attic-space insulation are two keys to lower fuel bills, Goldschmidt
said.
“Depending on the size of your house,
for a couple hundred dollars you can probably save 10 to 15 percent
on your winter heating bill. If you project that out over a number
of years the savings become much larger,” he said.
Weather strip doors and windows and use caulk
around pipes. A couple tubes of caulk, which may cost $20, could
save you several hundred dollars, he said.
“Weatherstripping for doors and windows
is readily available at most hardware and home improvement stores.
Often, these items are available at sizes pre-cut to your doors
and windows. They are very easy to install and do not require
special tools,” he said.
Adequate attic space insulation is also important.
“In Missouri, we recommend 12 inches of insulation,”
Goldschmidt said. If insulation is inadequate, “Warm air
goes right up through the ceiling.”
Exposed air ducts in the attic also should
be covered or wrapped with insulation. Warm air in these ducts
coming from the furnace cools before entering the house, making
the furnace work harder, he said.
Setting the thermostat a degree or two lower
can make a difference. It is estimated that there is a 3 percent
savings in heating fuel costs for each degree the thermostat is
lowered.
A thermostat setting of 65 to 68 F provides
sufficient heat for normal daytime activity, although children
and the elderly may require higher temperatures. Because less
heat is needed when sleeping, a thermostat setting of 60 degrees
is recommended for nighttime hours.
Turn down heat in unused rooms. During winter
vacations or long periods away from home, reduce the thermostat
setting to 50 degrees.
Replacing single pane windows with double-
or triple-pane windows makes a big difference, but such replacement
can be costly.
With some homes, levelized billing might be
helpful for spikes in energy use. Levelized billing is available
at many utility companies. Your monthly bill will be averaged
over the last year.
For a more thorough analysis of energy savings,
most utility companies also offer free energy audit programs,
Goldschmidt said.
Archives
| Comments | Home SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscribe
| Change Your
Address | Unsubscribe
Copyright © 2007 — Curators of the University of Missouri
DMCA and other copyright information.
All rights reserved.
An equal opportunity/ADA institution.
Published by the Mizzou Alumni Association
Questions? Comments? E-mail comments@mizzoualumni.org
Last Update:
November 15, 2007
|
