Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts
Posted - Oct 03 2010 : 08:20:57 AM
There are lots of ways that the average home has hidden inefficiencies that can be costing you a lot of money!
Make sure you clean your condensor coils of your refridgerator every month for best efficiency. I thought I was getting mine but when I pulled the fridge out adn took the back off, it was CLOGGED with dog hair and dirt. Very gross and very wasteful.
Also if you keep having to adjust your fridge just a little colder or if it randomly freezes your veggies- you might want to look at defrosting it- even auto defrosting fridges sometimes get frozen up. I am currently defrosting mine and have had at least a quart of water come out from the coils.
Keeping night lights/ room lights on. If it's daytime usually we don't really need the lights on. It's just habit. Try turning them off and opening some drapes to see if you are comfortable with the light level.
Clean the bathroom fan blades. Any dirt build up on a moving part causes energy waste.
Anything with a light, timer, or "instant on" (tv's and computers) are energy drains.
Heating water when you are gone during the day and keeping the house hot/cool during the day when you are gone.
Also invest in insulators for each plug in for your house. A lot of hidden energy leaks happen around the plug ins because it is a hole in the insulation of your house.
Another tip is to keep your dryer hose cleaned out (if you use a dryer). I line dry almost everything -- but can't believe the difference in the time it takes to dry when it is cleaned out versus trapped with lint. It is also is a good safety tip.
Also, a good way to recycle bubble wrap is to use it for an insulating covering over basement windows. We've done this the last couple of years and it makes a huge difference. We can actually feel the difference warmth-wise.
My father-in-law is an appliance repairman and will vouch for what you say about pet hair accumulation diminishing efficiency. He's had to clean up the coils on our refrigerator a few times because of cat hair. It doesn't matter how clean you keep things, they just seem to be a pet hair magnet!
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington
gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts
Posted - Oct 10 2010 : 08:35:36 AM
Just pluging up air seep holes around doors and windows a hot water heater blanket is good to and not to expensive. Remember to lock the windows not just shut them they are still seeping air when not lock up. Diana
Hidden Inefficiencies
Posted - Oct 03 2010 : 08:20:57 AM
