Home Efficiency Checklist For Spring

With the coronavirus keeping us home more than usual in the coming weeks, it’s more important than ever to keep your home running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Here’s a checklist to help you get a handle on what needs to be done to keep your home comfortable and running efficiently as we transition between seasons.

Home efficiency checklist – Spring Edition

Thermostat

• If you’re using your heating system, set your thermostat at 68 degrees when people are home for the best balance of comfort and energy savings; lower the temperature when no one is home, or when people are sleeping to maximize savings. Once cooling season arrives, target a thermostat setting of 78 degrees, raising temperatures when when people are home.

Vents

• When using your HVAC system, close vents in unused rooms
• Keep vents clear to ensure good airflow
• Clean your vents with soap and water and a microfiber cloth to improve indoor air quality and reduce dust
• Check your HVAC filter once a month, changing or cleaning it as necessary

Doors

• When using your HVAC equipment, keep doors closed between conditioned and unconditioned spaces; check and replace seals around interior doors to keep conditioned air from escaping
• Check door sweeps to make sure they are blocking drafts and keeping conditioned air inside your home.

Windows

• Check caulking on window frames to prevent conditioned air from escaping
• Clear window tracks so windows seal properly

Window treatments

• Consider using window treatments that support the goals of your home’s climate system, such as insulated treatments in cooler weather and reflective treatments during the hotter months. Learn more about efficiency-enhancing window hacks here.

Propane Generator

• Run your propane generator at least once every three months to keep it in working order
• Make sure you have enough propane to last at least one week in the event of a springtime power outage (if you don’t, schedule a propane delivery).

Heating system

• If you need a new heating system, consider installing it early in the season; early spring is often the best time to invest in a home heating system, since manufacturers usually offer great off-season incentives and convenient installation appointment times are more readily available.
• Schedule heating service to ensure reliable operation

Cooling system

• Schedule your annual tune-up to avoid the late springtime rush

Water Heater

• Consider resetting the temperature of the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees (default settings are often 140 degrees) to get the best balance of comfort and energy savings; for every 10 degrees you lower the temperature, you’ll save 3-5 percent on your bill, says the DOE. Keep the temperature at 140 degrees if someone in your home suffers from immune deficiency.
• Consider upgrading your conventional water heater to a tankless propane water heater to save even more money.

Attic

• Bring your installation up to recommended R-values to help stabilize temperatures year-round and reduce air leaks in your home; you can get some guidance on where and how much insulation to install here.

Alarms

• Test all alarms – smoke, CO, radon detectors, etc., replacing batteries if needed

Fireplace / Wood Stove

• Close the damper to prevent heat from entering through the chimney
• Schedule a chimney inspection to prevent hazards related to creosote buildup

If you need to have your propane- or heating oil-fired equipment serviced or replaced during this challenging time, Pioneer Oil and Propane is here for you. We follow the strictest standards for coronavirus safety and will make sure your family continues to be safe and comfortable as we transition to the warmer weather of spring. Contact us today to learn more about heating oil and propane service in Worcester, MA.