- Have your furnace and gas appliances serviced annually by a qualified contractor to ensure maximum energy-efficiency and safety.
- Put on your favorite sweater and set your thermostat between 65 and 68 degrees during the winter. For sleep hours, set the temperature at least 5 degrees lower and add a cozy blanket to your bed. Bear in mind that warmer temperatures are recommended for homes with ill or elderly persons or infants.
- Install a programmable thermostat and set it to accurately follow your schedule. If no one is home during the day, there’s no need to keep your house warm.
- Replace or clean your furnace filters monthly during high-operating season, but a minimum of four times a year. And keep your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted.
- Adjust vents to keep specific rooms in your home at a desired temperature. Heat rises, so you may want to partially close upstairs vents. Do not close more than one or two vents in an average sized house. Restricting airflow too much can shorten the life of your furnace.
- Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans sparingly in cold weather. In just one hour, these fans can blow away a houseful of warm air.
- Seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings, such as pipes or ducts, with caulking or weather-stripping.
- Have your ducts tested for air leakage. Leaking ducts can reduce the efficiency of your heating system by up to 30 percent.
- Plug gaps around pipes, fans and vents that go through exterior walls, ceilings and floors from heated to unheated spaces.
- Avoid blocking heating vents and air returns with furniture, draperies or carpet.
The S&B Real Estate Team assists people in buying and selling real estate throughout Southwest Washington. We are proud members of Keller Williams Realty – Premier Partners in downtown Vancouver. Our local expertise covers: Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, Washougal, Brush Prairie, Hockinson, Ridgefield, Woodland and La Center. If you or someone you know is considering living or investing in Clark County, please contact us. Jamie Carroll can be reached at 360-609-6775. Steve Borwieck can be reached at 360-241-7305. Or drop us a note on the “Contact Us” page at www.sbreteam.com. We are here to help!
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