(ARA) - The bad news from Hurricane Katrina is now spreading across the country. The Department of Energy states natural gas prices will leap up to 71 percent this fall and winter, due to damage caused by the storm. This translates into a $600 jump in home heating for most homeowners, according to the Georgia Public Service Commission. Now is the time to give your home a “check-up”. Here are six tips from the Comfort Institute to make your home an energy sipper instead of a gas guzzler!

1. Have your duct system tested for air leaks. Many assume that windows and doors are the major cause of a home’s energy wasting air leaks. But according to recent research by the Department of Energy (DOE), gaps, joints and disconnections in the typical home’s duct system are much more significant. The DOE states that the typical duct system loses 25 to 40 percent of the energy put out by the central furnace or heat pump. Authorities recommend having a heating contractor test for leaks and then seal them with a brushed on fiber-reinforced elastomeric sealant. Duct tape usually dries out and fails. It turns out duct tape is great for many things, but sealing ducts isn’t one of them!

2. Ask your contractor to perform an Infiltrometer “blower door” test. The blower door is a computerized instrument originally invented by the Department of Energy. It pinpoints where your home’s worst air leaks are, such as duct leaks, and also measures how leaky the overall house is. Most homes have the equivalent of an open window in combined air leaks. Many heating contractors offer an Infiltrometer test as part of a “Whole House Health & Comfort Checkup” that also checks insulation levels and overall duct performance.

3. Close your fireplace damper. Did you remember to close it last time you used the fireplace? Shut it now or waste precious warm air all winter long!

4. Replace your furnace or heat pump air filter. Most systems need this done every month to ensure safe and efficient operation. Keep forgetting to do it? Ask your contractor for information on an extended surface area whole house air filter that only needs to be replaced once a year. It also does a far better job of keeping your equipment and the air in your home clean.

5. Have your heating system cleaned and tuned. A pre-season tune up is a great investment. It reduces the chances of breakdowns on cold winter nights, improves safety, and more than pays for itself through more energy efficient operation. For a free report: “How To Identify a Good Heating and Cooling Contractor,” go to www.comfortinstitute.org.

6. Install a programmable set-back thermostat. Turning down the thermostat 8 degrees for 8 hours a day will save 8 percent on home heating costs. An easy way to take advantage of these savings is to lower the thermostat temperature while away from home or sleeping. Ask your heating contractor about new models which are much easier to program.

7. Consider replacing your old furnace or heat pump. Just like a car, heating and cooling equipment doesn’t last forever. Is your system more than 12 years old? Planning to stay in your home more than a few years? Many authorities recommend replacing it before it fails permanently. A new system is safer, improves comfort, is more dependable and creates less air pollution. New units pay for themselves over time as they are up to twice as energy efficient. However, government and utility research has found that over 90 percent of newly installed high efficiency systems have energy wasting mistakes. Do some homework before talking to contractors.

For more information, visit www.energystar.gov and www.comfortinstitute.org. Print out the free Comfort Institute report “Tips and Secrets To Buying A New Heating and Cooling System.”

Courtesy of ARA Content

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