Friday, March 1, 2013

Spring Home Comfort Checklist


Take control of home energy costs
  •   Reduce air leaks in your home by caulking, sealing and weather stripping around doors and windows.
  • Use exhaust fans to reduce moisture in the kitchen or bath, but turn them off when they’re no longer needed.
  •  Make sure your refrigerator’s seals are airtight. Test by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the dollar out easily, the seal may need to be adjusted.
  • Wash only full loads in your dishwasher and clothes washer.
  • Turn off lights you don’t need to save energy and reduce extra heat in your home.
  • If it’s time to replace your air conditioner, choose an energy-efficient model with two-stage cooling, such as the XC-14 (CooloMatic.com). Two levels of operation allow you to rely on the low setting most of the time.
  • Prepare dinner on your outdoor grill to help reduce your air conditioner’s load.
  • Check ducts for air leaks, including holes or separated sections.


Don’t let April showers bring May mildew

  •   Clear leaves, pine needles and other debris from gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage. Check that they’re stable to avoid flying debris during storms.
  • Be sure downspouts slope away from your house. They should carry water at least 5' from foundation walls.
  •  Position lawn sprinklers so they don’t spray your home’s walls
  •  Examine window and door seals and weather-stripping. Reseal if needed.
  • Move furniture a few inches away from the inside of exterior walls to increase air circulation.
  • Move furniture a few inches away from the inside of exterior walls to increase air circulation.
  •  Check windows for condensation and walls for water stains, which are signs of too much humidity.
  • Keep your home’s relative humidity between 30 – 50%. A humidity control system such as Humiditrol® (CooloMatic.com) can safely control humidity.



No comments:

Post a Comment