Winter Tips: Set Your Thermostat and Clean Your Dryer Vent
Winter is indeed a beautiful time of the year. The chill in the air brings people together and the world around you is pure white. What’s not to love about throwing in some cozy blankets and a cup of coffee or hot cocoa?
However, staying warm during these cold months can be costly when you are not careful. Expert heating technicians say that setting your thermostat and cleaning your dryer vent is the best way to stay warm in your home without breaking the bank.
Setting the Thermostat
Before the weather gets too cold, you have to make sure that all leaks around your doors and windows are properly sealed off. Also, all gaps and cracks must be repaired on your home’s exterior. After that, take a look at your thermostat settings.
You can save a significant amount of money and energy this winter by programming your thermostat effectively. Although most people set their thermostat at 72 degrees, lowering it down to 70 degrees can help you save on utility bills. And when you are not at home, consider programming your thermostat a few degrees cooler. Also, you can use cozy blankets and slippers to stay warm.
Moreover, you can switch on the fan setting on your thermostat instead of auto. You might think this is not a good idea since it uses more electricity, but this will help keep the air flowing in your home, making your entire house more comfortable. Also, this will help you avoid extravagant extremes in temperature. Aside from that, having your fan switched on will keep air filtered to make sure that the air you breathe is free from pollutants, allergens, and any particles.
Avoid closing air vents in unused rooms, thinking that this helps you save money. Remember that regardless of whether your air vents are open or closed, your furnace will keep pumping out air through your heating and cooling system. Since the duct system becomes more restrictive, the pressure will increase. The best way to prevent this is to leave the air registers open. Also, you can keep the doors in your home open to make the system more efficient and your home more comfortable.
Taking advantage of the sun is also a great way to keep your home warm and cozy. Open your curtains or blinds when the sun is shining. Aside from enhancing your health and mood, the heat from the sun can also help lower your utility bills. So keep your windows clear on the east side in the morning and the west side in the afternoon. But if the sun is not shining on your windows, you must keep them insulated by closing blinds and curtains to help keep out the cold.
The Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning
Homeowners often neglect their dryer vents because they believe that cleaning the lint screen after each load is the only maintenance it requires. Cleaning the lint screen is indeed necessary, but there are other important tasks you should do – and cleaning dryer vents is one of them. The ventilation system of your dryer must be cleaned at least once a year.
Protect Your Family
Every year, statistics have shown that dryers are responsible for over 15,000 structure fires. About 75% of those fires were caused by clogged dryer vents. Remember that a clogged dryer vent will ignite a dryer spark. Since lint is considered highly flammable, a fire in the vent can spread fast and can even get out of control.
Apart from being flammable, clogged dryer vents will also block poisonous gases like carbon monoxide from leaving your home. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless and deadly gas. This is released by a clogged dryer and the blockage keeps this noxious gas inside. With annual dryer vent cleaning, you can protect yourself and everyone inside your home.
Prevent Pest Infestation
Lint buildup in the ventilation system of your dryer will prevent the duct hood from closing tightly. With an open duct hood, birds, rodents, and other pests can have easy entry access to your home. During winter, a lint buildup makes a warm spot for small critters to sleep in.
Get Significant Savings
A routine dryer vent cleaning will also protect your wallet. If you have a clogged vent, the appliance will use up to 30% more energy while drying your clothes. Expect to pay a high bill if there is more hydro used.
Do not allow a clogged dryer vent to create costly problems. So during winter months, you should contact a professional to have your dryer vent cleaned property. Although cleaning your dryer vent might seem like an easy enough task, it is still advisable to let professionals do the cleaning for you.
Increasing your home’s energy efficiency during winter is the best way for you to stay warm. You do not have to spend too much to improve the energy efficiency of your property. All you have to do is to set your thermostat properly, keep the fan turned on, and have your dryer vent thoroughly cleaned by a professional.