How To Prepare Your Home for Autumn

Six Ways to Make Your House More Energy Efficient & Save Money This Fall

The Northeast is beautiful in the fall. This is the season of spiced pumpkin lattés, apple picking, and beautiful foliage. As the leaves begin to change and the temperatures begin to drop, it’s time to start thinking about how you can prepare your New England home for the cooler weather that’s on its way. By taking a few simple steps, you can make your home more energy efficient and save money this fall (and winter).

Getting Your Home Ready for Fall

There are several advantages to preparing your home now for the colder temps that are around the corner. First and foremost, because you’ll be increasing the energy efficiency of your home, you’ll see savings in your energy bills. Second, you’ll be taking important steps to prevent unwanted (and costly) surprises by making sure your heating equipment is in good working order and won’t fail when you need it most. Finally, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your home is prepared to keep your family safe and warm regardless of what the upcoming months have in store weatherwise.

Follow these steps to prepare your home for autumn and beyond:

1. Reduce air leaks. Install caulk, weather-stripping, and/or door sweeps to help your home keep more warm air in and cold air out. (You’ll reap the benefits of this during the summer months as well because your AC won’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool.)
2. Check to see that your home’s vents and baseboards are clear. Make sure your furniture, drapes, and rugs aren’t obstructing the flow of warm air into your living space.
3. Use and appropriately adjust a programmable thermostat. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save up to 10% annually on their heating and cooling bills simply by adjusting their thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day.
4. Check your filters and clean or replace them as needed. Clean filters are important to prevent your furnace from working harder than it needs to. This will save you money on heating fuel and maintenance costs.
5. Check to make sure your heating system is working. It should start up after a few minutes if you raise the thermostat five degrees above the current room temperature.
6. Schedule a service visit for your heating equipment. Regular maintenance on your heating equipment can save you from losing as much as 5% in efficiency every year. Increasing efficiency means more savings. So, losing efficiency means spending more money. Furthermore, during a maintenance visit your service technician will identify minor problems and address them before they become big or costly problems. At Hocon Gas, we sell, install and repair appliances and heating systems. We also offer a variety of Home Comfort Membership options that include regular inspections, monitoring, and tune-ups.

With six strategic locations serving Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York, Hocon Gas has grown to be one of the largest family-owned propane and fuel oil suppliers in the region. Let us provide your family with reliable service and competitive prices. Click here to find the branch serving your area.

Contact Hocon Gas today to take advantage of our exceptional service and competitive prices. Ask about our current special on propane water heaters. You could save up to $500.