Household Maintenance

Make your holidays sparkle, shine and save you money year after year. LEDs consume much less energy than traditional bulbs and last up to 15 times longer.

Seal Ducts. Leaks in your ductwork can waste energy. Seal them using duct tape or mastic. Find out how at https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome/heating_cooling/duct_sealing  

Upgrade to Smart Thermostats for remote control and scheduling convenience. Smart features save money with occupancy sensors and allow you to adjust your home’s temperature even when you’re away.  Hint: Smart thermostats make great gifts!   

Get an Engine BlockHeater Controller. It can detect the ambient temperature and adjust automatically to warm up the motor components, reducing run time.   

Reverse Ceiling Fans. Set your fans to rotate clockwise. This simple strategy will push the warm air down to reduce energy use and keep you cozier.  

Insulate Your Tank-Style Water Heater. Wrapping a water heater insulation blanket around your tank will reduce heat loss and save money on energy bills. Consider installing a heat pump water heater for efficiency.  

Use Countertop Appliances to Cook. A toaster oven, convection oven and air fryer use one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven, and slow cookers are very efficient when making soups or stews.  

Consider Installing a Heat Pump. A heat pump both heats and cools your home, improves indoor air quality and is more energy efficient than traditional HVAC equipment. To learn more, head to www.wattsmart.com and visit our news page to listen to the radio interview on heat pump benefits.    

Unplug Chargers and Appliances. Even when not in use, they consume energy. Consider installing a smart plug or occupancy switch to set schedules and reduce usage when rooms are unattended. Rebates are available.  

Use Energy-Efficient Appliances with the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR is a government-backed symbol ensuring simple, credible, and unbiased information on appliance efficiency and performance.