Give Your Etobicoke Home an Energy Audit
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 Winter is approaching and there is no better time than now to give your Etobicoke home the energy audit it needs. A careful examination of your home can result in great savings, as heating comprises about 60 per cent of your home’s energy bills during the winter months. Not only can you make your home more energy efficient and save money by doing a thorough inspection, but you can also contribute to a healthier, greener planet.Among others, here are some simple steps to follow when trying to increase your Etobicoke home’s energy efficiency:- Replace or clean furnace filters once every three months. Darren Voros, the national manager of The Home Inspection Network says: “Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted will reduce energy use, saving up to five per cent of heating costs.”
- Check for exterior wall cracks and seal them. Cold air can enter your home through cracks around windows, and through holes created for ventilation, such as dryer and bathroom vents. Inspect these areas thoroughly to make sure that they are fully sealed.
- Fill cracks where your baseboards and floorboards meet. Cold air easily enters your main living areas through these cracks, especially if you have an unfinished basement. Keep your feet warm and reduce the overuse of baseboard heating by filling these cracks with latex caulking.
- Check your fireplace flue and dampers. A faulty fireplace damper could mean that warm air is exiting your home without you knowing it. Check your damper to make sure that it fully closes when your fireplace is not in use. Use a flashlight to inspect the interior of the fireplace for holes or gaps that require fireproof sealing.
- Use weather stripping on your doors. As your doors are constantly opening and closing, it is important that they move smoothly. By the same token, it is equally important that they are sufficiently sealed to keep warm air in. There are a variety of types of weather stripping to choose from and consulting a professional is the first step in finding the best fit for your doors.
- Run your ceiling fans in reverse. Turning your fan in a clockwise direction during the winter can recycle up to 10 per cent of your home’s heat. It takes any warm air sitting near your ceilings and pushes it back down into your living areas.
There are many ways to make your Etobicoke home more energy efficient and increase your savings. Start with these simple steps and watch as your energy costs decrease and your home becomes a greener living space. |
