HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Temperatures are expected to plunge over MLK Weekend and into next week. With the arctic conditions will come a surge in energy uses - but are you and your home ready to take on the cold? Huntsville Utilities offers the following tips and reminders.
Disconnect outside hoses. Water inside the hoses can easily cause the hose to rupture. Click here for more about protecting your pipes in frigid temps.
Set your thermostat to as low as is comfortable. Energy experts don't want you to put your health at risk, but at the same time say cranking the needle up on the furnace isn't helpful, either. According to information from the U.S. Department of Energy, 68 degrees is ideal. Furthermore, "you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting."
Set ceiling fans to clockwise. Doing this circulates warm air throughout the room. In summertime, you do the opposite: setting fans counterclockwise will help distribute cooler air.
Close the fireplace damper when not in use. This is a year-round tip, but specifically for wintertime, keeping the flue closed when you don't have a fire going will keep the icy air from making its way into the house.
Dress warmly. If you have the comfy pajamas and a wooly sweater going, you're less likely to be chilly enough to need the heater. Also use extra blankets to keep body heat close.
Place rugs on hard floors to minimize the chill. Rugs can help reduce the effect of arctic-blasted moisture in the air.
Let the sun in. Opening blinds and drawing curtains back will fill the room with light as well as a few degrees of more heat.
And at night... Close the blinds and curtains. These will help insulate your room from the cooler temps around the windows.
Seal drafts around doors and windows. You'll help block out even more cold air from eking through these cracks and crevices.
Don't block the air vents. According to the website Save on Energy, "Your heater or air conditioner produces the same amount of air regardless of how many open or closed vents you have. To keep air flowing through your home and save on electricity bills, you shouldn't close more than 75% of your vents." Instead, it is recommended you close doors to rooms you aren't using.
Make sure the heater filter is clean. A clogged filter can prevent air intake and cause the system to work even harder.