• Lower your thermostat. Try reducing your usual daytime temperature by at least one degree. For each lowered degree, you'll save one to three percent off those heating bills. At night, turn down the thermostat to 60 degrees: It's much healthier, you'll feel better when you awaken, and you'll save money. If you go away for a weekend or more, lower thermostat to 55 degrees.
• Run bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans less. Exhaust fans pull warm air out of the house and let in cooler air that will need to be heated. Use fans only when necessary.
• Close the damper on your fireplace when not in use. If not, your chimney will draw warm air out of the room and create a draft.
• Close off unused spaces (attic, garage, basement, spare bedrooms, storage areas) or heat only those rooms that you use. If your heating system has vents, close off heating vents in unused rooms.
• If you have ceiling fans, reverse the switch so they blow upward toward the ceiling. The reverse air circulation promotes heating efficiency in the winter.
• Reduce your hot water heater temperature to 115-120 degrees.
• Keep blinds and drapes open on sun-exposed windows during the day. Close these same drapes at night to help impede the escape of heat.
• Dust builds up on radiators and baseboard heating vents, and then reduces the amount of heat that can get into a room. Dust and vacuum these surfaces often.
• Prune branches from trees and bushes that block the sun's rays into your home.
• When you add energy-efficient items to your home, check for possible tax breaks or discounts on homeowner insurance policies.
• Check with local utility companies for free energy audits. Certain energy saving devices may also be provided and installed free of charge. Lower income households typically qualify for these free products and services.

Investments that lead to greater energy efficiency and savings.

Most of the following products and treatments require a small investment but can be expected to more than pay for themselves over time; in the reductions in consumption and costs. Fred’s Plumbing & Heating offers most all products & services below. Call today for more information.

• Programmable thermostat: Have settings lowered when you are at not home to save significantly.
• Caulking and weather-stripping are relatively inexpensive and can save 5 to 30% on heating bills. Check for drafts, cracks and gaps. Some areas where cool air can penetrate: window frames, around doors, wall or window-mounted air conditioners, attic hatches, baseboards, switch plates, electrical outlets, and foundations.
• Be sure to have adequate insulation in walls, ceilings, attics and basements. Seal and insulate water pipes and warm air ducts in unheated spaced.
• Set your thermostat at a lower overall temperature, and use space heaters for one or a few frequently-used rooms. Heaters can start fires, so be sure to keep them at least three feet from combustible items and turn off before leaving a room or going to sleep. Supervise children and pets when using heaters.
• In areas with colder climates, replace drafty single-pane windows, doors and skylights with products designed for these climates, such as thermal and storm windows and doors.
• When it's time to replace that old furnace, replace it with a fuel-efficient model. When selecting a new furnace, look for ones that have earned the Energy Star. These burners meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy, and use about 10% less energy than a standard burner.
• Have your furnace inspected and tuned annually. The savings in heating costs far exceed the service cost.
• Replace your furnace's air filter according to manufacturer's directions and your system will operate more efficiently; usually about once every one to three months.
• A "draftstopper" effectively seals your fireplace from any heat loss, even more so than a closed damper. A draftstopper is an inflatable "pillow" that you insert into the flue, and its design allows for easy removal and reinsertion. A glass front or glass screen will also reduce fireplace heat loss.
• Add a dryer vent seal to your clothes dryer vent opening, where heated air commonly pours out all winter long. Typical sheet metal flappers do not effectively seal against air leakage. A dryer vent seal stays closed unless the dryer is in use.
• Install a low-flow shower head; it will use up to 50% less hot water.
• Cover your water heater with an insulating jacket.