Space Heaters

If you need a space heater to keep warm in your house. you should probably get an energy audit.

Please be very careful with space heaters, they are the number one cause of fires this time of year. Leave lots of space around them. That's why they are space heaters.

Space Heater Safety Tips
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In order, to protect family from this kind of tragedy, exercise caution while using the space heater. So, here are some tips:

• Keep space heaters 3 feet from curtains, bedding, upholstered furniture as well as paper products.
  

• Warm bedroom prior to going to bed, and then shut heater off. Make use of blankets for warmth when you are sleeping.

• Turn off when you leave house.

• Only make use of space heater, which is approved for the safety by the Underwriters Laboratory.

• Read & follow manufacturer’s instructions.

• Never make use of extension cord.

• Install the fire detectors on every floor of home.

• In case, you are making use of gas space heater, then install carbon monoxide detector in home. The gas space heaters will emit carbon monoxide and it is odorous, colorless, and deadly.

• Keep toddlers far away from the space heaters just to avoid any burns.
  

• Keep fire department number ready every time.

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A is for Air Sealing

A is for Air sealing. One of the biggest contributors to heat loss is air leaks. These are easy to find with a little investigation. They show up as gaps letting in day light, cobwebs across openings, and dirty fiberglass covering over holes in the attic. From the diagram you can see there are many places that can leak. Just how much savings can be gotten from sealing these up? The estimates are $50-$75 a year for each 100 cubic feet per minute reduction.

How do you air seal? You find the leaks and stop them with spray foam or caulk. For larger gaps it may necessary to use rigid foam sheets or drywall to cover the opening and then seal it up.

WARNING!
It is important to get professional help if you do extensive air sealing. Tightening up the house can cause dangerous, even fatal levels of CARBON MONOXIDE to build up in the house. Professional auditors are trained to test for proper air flow, combustion safety and assess the ventilation needs of the building. Your house has to breathe, but needlessly wasting energy is letting the heat leak out. Tightening the house can result in poor indoor air quality and adversely affect the health of the occupants.