Fall Vermont 2016 | Page 6
Heating from Page 5
keep the house as cool as possible.
Determine if cold air is infiltrating
the home elsewhere, such as from
around pipes leading to the outdoors. Caulking or foam insulation
can remedy the situation.
Adding extra insulation in garages and attics also can help. The
DOE says if insulation is less than
R-30, the home probably can use
more. If after increasing insulation
your home still feels drafty, it may
require additional insulation in the
exterior walls.
Invest in a quality thermostat.
Many modern room thermostats
allow homeowners to set different
temperatures for different times of
day, and some even allow homeowners to establish a different
heating schedule for the weekends.
Programmable thermostats allow
homeowners to keep their homes
cooler when unattended or during
sleeping hours. The heat can be
programmed to turn on or increase
in temperature when residents
Heating a home efficiently means reducing
drafts, programming the thermostat and
making the most of other ways to warm up.
are expected to return home after
school or work.
While homeowners are improving heating efficiency, they should
reverse the direction of ceiling
fan blades. Having the blades spin
clockwise will draw down the hot
air that rises to the ceiling and
allow it to better flow through the
home.
In addition to these suggestions,
homeowners can employ these
other energy- and cost-saving measures.
∞ Reuse oven heat. After cooking a meal in the oven, open the
oven door and let the residual heat
escape into the kitchen and the rest
of the house. Note, it is not safe to
heat a home with the oven, and the
oven should be turned off before
opening the door.
∞ Add a little humidity. Moist
air tends to hold heat better. Add
some humidity to dry indoor air,
particularly if the relative humidity
of the home as measured with a
hygrometer is below 25 percent.
Houseplants and home aquariums
can add some warm moisture to the
air and reduce reliance on heat.
∞ Limit use of exhaust fans. After
showering or cooking, keep the
exhaust fan on for as little time
as possible so that warm air is not
drawn out of the home.
Heating a home efficiently means
reducing drafts, programming the
thermostat and making the most of
other ways to warm up.
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6 • Fall Vermont Home Garden & Car