If the dates on the calendar aren’t enough, let the recent series of thunderstorms be a reminder that winter is just around the corner. So start working today to get your home tuned up and ready for the rain and chill ahead.
Fall is the ideal time of year to have your home’s heating and cooling system examined before the upcoming heating season. Contractors are likely to have greater flexibility in their schedules over the next few months than they will after Halloween.
“Winter is the busiest time of year for many heating and cooling contractors because homeowners often don’t realize their furnace or heat pump has problems until they try to use it during the first cold days of the season,” said Clark Public Utilities Energy Services Supervisor DuWayne Dunham. “Then they may find themselves near the bottom of a serviceman’s long waiting list, which isn’t pleasant if the heating system requires major repairs.”
If significant issues are discovered in your home heating system during a service call, you’ll have time to consider alternatives related to repairing or replacing it, get quotes from several contractors, and learn about possible money-saving opportunities to make upgrades more affordable — rather than having to make a snap decision during frigid weather.
“Clark Public Utilities can assist homeowners who have electric heat with rebates and loans if they need a heat pump replaced,” Dunham said. “For gas-heated homes, NW Natural offers rebates for replacing gas furnaces with more efficient models.”
Clark County residents can find a list of local heating and cooling contractors who participate in the utility’s Contractor Network, are well-versed in the rebates and incentive programs available, and meet the certification and training standards.
Even if the furnace is in good working order, it may need a new filter. Regular replacement of filters keeps a system operating efficiently and improves indoor air quality.
If you don’t have a furnace, inspect your heaters and clean them if necessary. Wall and baseboard heaters are more efficient when they’re free of dust and debris.
Examine the envelope
An added benefit to winterizing early is the decent weather. It’s still warm and dry enough to tackle weatherization projects on the home’s envelope — the exterior walls, floor and ceiling — without too much discomfort. On the next sunny day, examine your windows to see if they need new or additional caulk around the frames; check your doors to see if they have absent or damaged weather stripping; and, if necessary, fill any gaps around plumbing on outside walls or under your sinks.
It’s also a good time of year to chase down and seal up any air leaks in your home. Uninsulated electrical outlets and light switches are one of the first and easiest places to look. Collectively they are responsible for a surprising amount of air leaks in the average home. To find out if yours are insulated, simply remove the face plate from the wall and look for an insulation pad. For less than $15 and an hour of your time, you could address all or most of the outlets in your home and help keep the warm air in when winter arrives.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
