Winter Is Almost Here! PECO Offers Home Energy Tips for the Cold Months Ahead
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- As the coldest months of the year approach, PECO reminds everyone that now is the time to make sure your home is ready.
Heating systems and water heaters are the largest energy expense in most homes -- accounting for around two-thirds of energy bills during the colder months.
Here are some simple suggestions to help keep your home safe and warm and your energy bill down.
-- Have your furnace professionally inspected every two years. A
well-maintained appliance will last longer, operate better and save
money.
-- Replace the filter for your heat pump or furnace for the new heating
season. Dirty filters block airflow and force equipment to work
harder -- this increases operating costs and can cause damage.
-- Inspect the insulation between heated and unheated areas.
Insulation is the single most important energy conservation measure.
It will deteriorate over time and occasionally needs to be
reinforced.
-- Wrap water heaters with an insulation blanket. These blankets are
inexpensive and easy to install.
-- Inspect the caulking or weather stripping around windows, doors and
any openings for utility services. A drafty house lets warm air
escape and is much more costly to keep warm - especially on the
coldest days of the season.
-- Remove window air conditioners if possible, or install an air
conditioner cover to stop drafts.
-- Keep the fireplace damper closed tightly when not in use.
-- Keep heating vents clean with a vacuum or broom and do not cover
ducts with drapes or furniture that can block the airflow and
possibly cause a fire.
-- Reverse the rotation of ceiling fan blades. During the winter
months, blades should spin counter-clockwise so the warm air that
has risen can be re-distributed around the room.
-- Close off unoccupied rooms and regulate individual room temperatures
by adjusting the registers. Adjust room registers so warm air flows
across the floor and rises naturally.
-- Keep your thermostat set at a constant, comfort level -- usually
68 - 70 degrees. Or, consider installing a programmable thermostat.
These thermostats automatically regulate temperatures for increased
comfort and savings.
These quick and easy steps can save you 5 - 10 percent on your utility bill.
PECO urges low-income customers who may need help paying their winter heating bills to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a Federal program that provides cash and crisis assistance to qualifying individuals. This year's cash program runs from November 13, 2001 to January 31, 2002. The crisis program runs from November 13, 2001 t0 March 15, 2002. Local residents can call PECO's LIHEAP hotline at 1-800-34-HELP-4 for more information or an application.
PECO customers who are not eligible for LIHEAP, but may experience difficulty with their energy costs should consider taking advantage of budget billing. Budget Billing levelizes annual energy costs over 12 months and makes short-term fluctuation much easier to handle. Call 1-800-494-4000 for additional information on budget billing.
PECO Energy, an Exelon Company, delivers electricity to 1.5 million customers and natural gas to 430,000 customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. Based in Philadelphia, PECO and its sister utility, ComEd in the Chicago area, are subsidiaries of Exelon Energy Delivery. Its parent, Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC - news), is one of the largest energy service companies in the U.S. with the largest retail utility customer base, one of the largest power generation fleets and a leading wholesale energy marketing operation in North America. In 2000, PECO delivered 92.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 35.36 million megawatt hours of electricity, generating $3.5 billion in revenue for Exelon. |
