Aug 4

Aug 4 Your Fall Energy Savings Checklist

As temperatures begin to cool, fall is the perfect time to prepare your home for the months ahead. A few simple maintenance tasks can help keep your home comfortable, improve energy efficiency, and potentially lower your energy use before winter arrives.

Here’s your easy fall energy-saving checklist:

1. Replace Your HVAC Filter

A clean air filter helps your heating system run more efficiently while improving indoor air quality. Check your filter monthly and replace it as recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Seal Drafts Around Doors and Windows

Cool air can sneak in through small gaps and cracks. Add weatherstripping or caulk around doors and windows to help keep warm air inside where it belongs.

3. Adjust Your Thermostat

As the weather cools, set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature when you’re home and lower it a few degrees while you’re sleeping or away. A programmable or smart thermostat can make these adjustments automatically.

4. Check Your Air Vents

Make sure furniture, rugs, and curtains aren’t blocking heating vents. Keeping vents clear allows warm air to circulate more effectively throughout your home.

5. Clean Around Heating Equipment

Dust and debris can collect around vents, baseboards, and heating units over the summer. A quick cleaning helps your system operate more efficiently and safely.

6. Switch to LED Lighting

With shorter days ahead, you’ll likely be using lights more often. If you haven’t already, replace older bulbs with ENERGY STAR® certified LED bulbs, which use less energy and last much longer.

7. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

Most ceiling fans have a small switch that changes the direction of the blades. Running the fan clockwise at a low speed during cooler months helps push warm air back down into the room.

8. Schedule a Heating System Tune-Up

Before temperatures really drop, have your furnace or heat pump inspected by a qualified professional. Preventive maintenance can help identify small issues before they become costly repairs.