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A guide for homeowners:
Here's what they recommend:
Attic/crawlspace -- As a general rule, if a home has less than 11 to 12 inches of insulation in the attic or crawlspace, it could probably use more. Use batt or blown insulation for best results. Check with us to determine the proper R-value of insulation for your home.
Water heater and hot water pipes -- Conserve heat and energy by swaddling your water heater with an insulation blanket kit or faced fiberglass insulation. Insulate hot water pipes with preformed foam pipe insulation sleeves if they pass through an unheated area or run under your home.
Windows -- Remove screens and install storm windows, Seal leaks, cracks, openings in the home.
Fireplace -- Make sure the damper closes as tightly as possible when a fire is not burning to minimize heat loss. [Remember to open the damper prior to starting a new fire]
Draft-prone areas -- Zip up your home's winter coat by caulking, sealing and weatherstripping around all seams, cracks and openings. Pay special attention around windows and where siding or bricks and wood trim meet. Seal areas near electrical boxes and plumbing penetrations as well.
Ductwork --Look for cracks or air leaks in ductwork and use paste to seal them. [not duct tape].
Improve indoor air quality
Furnace filters -- Change forced air heating system air filters monthly. Make a clean break into this season with a fresh filter instead of using last year's used goods.
Air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators --Regularly dusting off [vacuum] these heat sources will improve the energy efficiency of your home.
Ceiling fans -- To save energy during colder weather, activate the reverse setting on your ceiling fans to circulate hot air that rises to the ceiling and blow it back down. [ example of paddle position looks like \ turning counterclockwise as you look up at it ].
Maintain your lawn and garden
Cool-season grasses --Fertilize grasses such as ryegrass, fescue, and bluegrass in or before early November.
Bulbs -- Plant hardy bulbs in milder climates in the earlier part of November.
Vegetable and perennial beds -- Clean and prepare beds for next season's planting.
Leaves -- Rake and remove leaves left on the lawn to discourage disease. Never store leaves in the gutters of the home.
Push mower, outdoor power equipment -- Perform annual maintenance before storing.
Lawn and garden equipment, patio furniture -- Store to avoid harsh winter elements.
Hoses, outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems -- Drain before season's first freeze.
Bird feeders -- Regularly clean and refill feeders for winter's feathered friends.
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