3 Budget-Wise Tips for Winterizing Your Metairie Home
Metairie home owners don’t have to live in the kind of January landscape that
features blizzards and snowdrifts to want to winterize their home before the
onslaught of the chilliest temperatures. In even the mellowest of climates, winterization
is a way to shrink energy bills. And even if the recent shocking downward spirals in world oil prices have
sent your home heating costs to the bottom of your budget-tightening “to do”
list, remember that if and when you eventually put your Metairie home on the
market, low utility expenses can be a strong selling point. Regardless of how
you set your internal thermostat, the Big
Three of energy cost reduction always include the following:
Raise the Air Temp; Lower the Water Temp
Two tips that could seem counterproductive will cut energy
costs in many a Metairie home. You’d think you should just switch ceiling fans
off until spring, but not so. For cooling, the blades are set to spin
counterclockwise so that cool air won’t be wasted down near the floor. The tip
is to reverse the fan’s rotation to clockwise. That will act to push warmer air
down from the ceiling. Wait until the blades come to a stop, then slide the small
direction switch (it’s usually next to the pull cord). The second tip is actually
one you can do any time of the year since hot water heaters are usually set to
heat to 140 degrees. In truth, most of us don’t need it that hot. Try resetting
the temperature to 120 degrees, and see if it’s sufficient. If so, in the
course of a year you’ll save more than a few dollars!
Block Air Creep
For a few dollars, a tube of caulk can be a final defense
against the creep of cold outside air. Use caulk to seal cracks in the walls
and gaps around your windows and doors. In extremes, there are inexpensive
extra measures, such as see-through plastic sheets to cover windows with a
second seal (doing both would keep the most remote Siberian cabin as
buttoned-up as a baby kangaroo). If a drafty door will have to wait until
spring for full renewal, an interim trick is to roll up a bath towel and place
it against the threshold. This temporary fix keeps out the worst drafts and
doesn’t cost a dime.
Take Care of Your Air Conditioner
If you have water-served central air, during the colder
months when it’s out of service, good maintenance requires draining the water
hoses. Split air conditioners don’t have that issue, but some of them need an
exterior cover for preventing drafts (if you haven’t felt any on chilly
evenings, it’s not necessary). If you haven’t already removed any window units,
better go to the hardware store to buy exterior covers: a lot of chilly air can
make its way in through uncovered vents.
The Big Three tips alone comprise a Metairie home winterization
program that costs less than a burger and fries—yet can result in measurable
energy savings. If you have found any other simple energy savers, I hope you’ll
share: drop me an email, or give me a call at the office! Terez B. Harris 504-297-2619
Terez B. Harris
Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group
Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group
(504)297-2619
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Terez B. Harris Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group 504-297-2619 www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100
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