Winter Heating Tips

The City of Ocala Utilities realizes with costs increasing, conserving energy becomes even more important.  After all, we are customers too so we’ll do whatever it takes to help you save on energy costs.  Like a free on-line energy audit.  You can conduct an energy audit of your home, use the Energy Calculator to estimate annual energy usage of appliances, or answer you energy questions at the Energy Library.  Just  click on Residential Information - Home Energy Saver to learn about what Energy Depot can do for you. 

With the cooler month right around the corner, here are some energy saving tips to help reduce costs of Winter Heating Bills

• Set your thermostat at 68-70 degrees for heating.  Every degree above 70 degrees will cost an additional 6 to 8%.
• When leaving home, remember to turn the heat off or lower the thermostat setting a minimum of 5 degrees.  Lower thermostat to 60-65 degrees during nighttime sleeping hours.
• Replace or clean air filters once a month or sooner if dirty.  Dirty filters cause the unit to run longer, decreasing efficiency and increasing costs.
• Caulk and weatherstrip around windows, doors, pipes or anywhere else where air can leak out.   Making sure your home’s shell is air tight is one of the most cost-efficient ways to reduce energy waste and minimize energy dollars…..up to 30%!
• Add or upgrade your attic insulation.  OEU recommends a minimum of R-19 to R30.  The higher the R-Value the greater the insulating power, and the greater your potential energy savings! 
• Make sure all ductwork is sealed.  Ductwork that brings heating and cooling into your home can often have leaks that lead to lost energy and money. 
• Let the sun shine in to help warm your home during the winter months.
• For maximum efficiency have your heating and cooling system cleaned and serviced annually.
• Remember when your fireplace is not in use, close the flu damper and prevent heat from escaping up the chimney.
• Keep the fan on your central HVAC system in the “auto” position.  Leaving the central fan in the “On” position can add an extra $25 a month to your heating costs.
• Make sure the heating supply and return registers are not blocked by furniture or drapes.  The central heating system operates best with free-flowing air through it.
• Keep the windows and doors closed when the heat is on!
• Make sure your thermostat is accurate.  A faulty thermostat can cause your heating system to run more than it should, costing you a lot of energy dollars!
• Consider purchasing a Programmable Thermostat.  Programmable Thermostats save money by reducing the amount of time our heating system runs while the home is not occupied.
• Thermostats should be installed on an inside wall away from windows and doors, that would influence their operation.
• If you have a heat pump, adjust your thermostat in small increments to avoid the operation of the supplemental heat strip.  Energy consumption is much higher when the heat strip is in use.
• Don’t close off more than 10% of the unused rooms in your home.  Your central heating system works best with free airflow throughout the home.

Water Heating: 

• Water heating is the second largest energy expense in your home…..  Reduce the temperature settings on your electric water heater to 120 degrees or lower if you don’t use a dishwasher or if your dishwasher has a preheating element.  For safety make sure the breaker is turned off before opening the panel on the water heater.
• Water heating is the second largest energy expense in your home…..To lower the cost of heating water, have a timer installed that can automatically turn the water heater off,  running it  only for  an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening.
• Showers account for nearly 40 percent of the hot water used in a typical home.  You can achieve a significant savings in hot water use by installing low-flow showerheads and faucets.
• Consider using only cold temperatures for clothes washing – most detergents these days work just fine without hot water.  If you must wash a small load, be sure to use the appropriate water-level setting.
• For maximum efficiency, clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load, and periodically inspect the dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked.
• For maximum dishwasher savings always wash a full load of dishes, but be careful not to overload the machine.  Don’t rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher; scrape them instead.  Instead of using the dry cycle…..open the door and let your dishes air dry.

Lighting:

• Always turn off the lights in any room that is not occupied, even it it’s just for a few minutes.  It’s a myth that you use more energy turning lights on and off, than leaving them on.
• Use compact fluorescent bulbs where lights are on the most.   CFLs use 75% less energy and will last ten times as long.

Refrigeration: 

• For maximum cooling and efficiency set your refrigerator temperatures between 37 and 40 degrees and freezer temperatures at five degrees.  Deep freezers should be kept at zero.
• To minimize cold air loss, only open refrigerators and freezer doors after you have decided what to take out.