Tarter Home Maintenance Blog

Although we have seemingly endless high summer temperatures, the desert is actually quite cold during winter nights.  The average low temperature in Nov., Dec., and Jan. is 36 degrees. 

Many homes in the Las Vegas Valley are not as energy efficient as they should be. Only in the last few years has this become a priority for home builders.

Experts say you may cut annual energy costs up to $200 by properly sealing and insulating areas throughout your home.

The first place to look is your windows and doors.  It seems that every home I enter has at least one window that has blinds moving when the winds pick up. 

Window insulation kits work well for this, and are easy to install. 

The kits come in different sizes, covering from three indoor windows to patio doors. Prices vary by store, but a three-window kit is available for under $20, so it’s worth the money.  I’ve used this product many times and it will make a difference in your energy bill. 

Weather stripping around doors is the next place to inspect. The vinyl stripping tends to crack and disintegrate relatively fast from our harsh summer heat.  You can pick up a 7 ft. stick of this weather stripping at any home improvement store, for about $5. 

Here’s my favorite tip —Leaving the temperature inside your home constant day and night will most likely cost you MORE money.  It’s more economical to turn the heat down during the day when no one’s home, and at night when you’re sleeping.

I swear by programmable thermostats.  After I told one of my clients how much I like mine, she had one installed in her Henderson, NV home.  She happily reported a substantial decrease on her energy bill.  The best part is that NV energy provided her the unit FREE OF CHARGE.

 

Saving money with programmable thermostats can be impressive.  Studies show that properly using your automatic thermostat could cut your heating costs from 20% to 65%.  In summer, such devices may shave your cooling costs by 15% to 20%.  Nobody can  argue with that.

 

For more information on programmable thermostats,

Click here to visit NV Energy’s website 

 

Other winter tips include opening drapes during the day to capitalize on the sun’s warmth, wrapping your hot water heater, which can save you  up to 10% on your energy bills, and keeping the fireplace damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.

 

Change the air filter on your furnace monthly.   A dirty filter disrupts air flow, making the furnace less efficient and decreasing its life expectancy.  This is especially important here in Las Vegas, because of all the fine dust in the air. 

 

However, changing the filter every 30 days during the summer may not be enough.  If you can’t afford a new air filter monthly, be sure to remove and clean it thoroughly on a regular basis. 

 

Troy Tarter

http://TarterHomeMaintenance.com

 

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