END OF SUMMER ENERGY-SAVERS

The kids are back to school, temperatures are turning cooler, and depending on your point of view, the chaos is either winding down or just beginning!  Now's the time to start thinking about what you can be doing to prepare for the heating season ahead, and save yourself some money!  Here are some things that you can be doing before the cold weather sets in.

• Replace your furnace filter and have it serviced to ensure it will be working at its optimal efficiency all winter long.

• Replace the battery in your programmable thermostat, and check the programming to make sure it's correct.  Don't have one?  Now's the time to install one.  It's a relatively small investment that will save you money every month.

• Insulate your hot water tank and pipes.  You'll save money all year round on your water heating, but even more so during cold winter months!

• Remove or insulate your window air conditioning units.  If removing them isn't an option, be sure your window air conditioners are well-insulated.  Covers are available that can be placed on both the exterior and interior facing portions of the unit, plus you can get foam materials to insulate all around the unit, which has the added benefit of keeping the hot air out during the cooling season.  Covers and foam insulation can be found at your local home improvement or department stores.

• As it continues to get cooler, be sure to install or close storm windows, seal any leaks and cover older, drafty windows with plastic to reduce heat loss.  It's also a good idea to cover any windows with air conditioning units left in them with plastic after they've been properly insulated for added leak protection.