Time to turn up the heat on fall home weatherization
As the green of a warm summer fades, and the leaves begin to change into their chilly fall colors, western Pennsylvania residents are again finding the need to turn up the heat on home weatherization.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts alone can waste between 5 percent and 30 percent of your energy use.
The energy department reported one of the quickest ways to save energy and money is to seal all seams, cracks and openings to the outside to help prevent heat from escaping.
Dave Fullmer, owner of Mallery Fullmer Co. of Uniontown, said the change in temperature has made it prime time for the heating and air conditioning company.
“Last month, we were contacting peple now we’re getting more calls,” said Fullmer.
Fullmer said the company has a number of energy savings agreements with residential and commercial customers that purchase annual maintenance packages customized to their needs.
While people start calling for furnace tune-ups in late August, Fullmer said Labor Day is the first trigger followed by the first frost.
“As much as we try to design around seasonal it goes pretty much until the middle of December and after the middle of winter things die down a good bit and we’re focused more heavily on installation,” said Fullmer.
With the winter forecast from the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicting an extremely cold season, there are simple, inexpensive ways to keep your home comfortable, no matter what the weather.
Fullmer said with today’s high efficiency equipment, it is important to keep the furnace area clean both inside and outside along with changing the filters.
“Don’t let things get packed up around the equipment, on the inside make sure it’s easily accessible,” said Fullmer.
For outdoor heating units, Fullmer stressed not letting shrubs grow too close and to keep the area around the unit free of leaves and vines.
While windows and doors are prime spots for energy loss, other sources such as electrical outlets and switch plates on exterior walls also need addressed.
The energy department provides a number of tips on its website energy.gov to help lower energy costs starting with caulking and weatherstripping around doors and windows where the majority of heat loss occurs.
Unsealed air ducts in the attic and crawl spaces are also attributed to heat loss.
For optimal energy efficiency, the energy department states that a home should be properly insulated from the roof to the foundation.
Another way to save money without sacrificing comfort is to only heat the space you use.
Purchasing a programmable thermostat that you can set back when away is one possibility. Draping a blanket in the doorway between frequently used rooms is also recommended.
If your house has a chimney, keep it closed when its not in use.
In the event there is no heat, Fullmer suggested homeowners double check their thermostats to first make sure they didn’t move it to a different setting to avoid an unnecessary service call.
Checking for mold growth is also an important aspect of weatherizing the home.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), mold is found both indoors and outdoors.
Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems.
Mold in the air outside can attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets can and be carried indoors.
It can also affect people’s health, the CDC said, causing cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation and in some cases, severe reactions for those allergic to mold.
Mold is mainly found in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows or pipes, or where there has been flooding.
Mold also grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. It can even grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
According to the EPA, mold likes to grow in damp, out of the way, hard to reach places.
“The only way to control indoor mold is to control the moisture levels in the home,” the EPA stated.
Homeowners can take a few simple steps to prepare their homes for the fall starting with inspecting the interior walls.
Aire Serv, a global franchise organization that provides installation, maintenance and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and indoor air quality systems, provides several tips to check for and prevent mold from growing in the home.
According to Aire Serv, crawl spaces should be well ventilated so moisture doesn’t build up in certain naturally warm areas of the home.
The use of air conditioners can be used to reduce the amount of moisture in the air.
“As the season changes it is important to take preventative steps to make sure homes are ready to handle the upcoming season,” said Steven Johnson, Aire Serve owner.
If a homeowner is unsure if they have mold, Johnson suggest they contact a professional to do a home inspection.