Heating and Cooling Tips

• Ask the dealer for the unit’s "first-hour rating" when purchasing a water heater. The first hour rating is a measure of the appliance's ability to supply hot water
• Don't buy a larger water heater than you need. The greater surface area of larger tanks increases heat loss.
• Insulate your water heater. Wrap the heater in an insulating blanket and keep insulation 46 cm (18 inches) from the top. This will keep the heat energy that the system has already produced from escaping from the water heater.
• Install heat traps on the hot and cold pipes at the water heater to prevent heat loss. Some new water heaters have built-in heat traps.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater. Water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of between 43 and 48 degrees Celsius (110 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit) provides comfortable hot water for most uses. without using excess energy to heat it any more than necessary.
• Drain a small amount of water from your hot water tank every six months, or as recommended by the manufacturer. This will remove sediment, which can build up in your tank and prevent heat transfer and lower the unit’s efficiency.
• Make sure that your home system does not have any water leaks. A dripping hot water faucet can waste approximately 800 litres of water per month.
• Turn off your water heater when you are going to be away from home for more than two weeks.
• Start shopping for a new water heater if yours is more than seven years old. Most water heaters last 10-15 years, but doing some research before your water heater fails will enable you to select one that most appropriately meets your needs.
• Take a shower instead of a bath. A typical bath uses approximately 75 litres of hot water. A five-minute shower with an efficient showerhead will use about half that amount.
• Install low-flow shower heads to reduce water heating costs.
• Use cooler water to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes.
• Consider installing a solar water heater if you heat with electricity and live in a warm and sunny climate. The solar units are environmentally friendly and can now be installed on your roof to blend with the architecture of your house.

• Trap the heat already produced by sealing leaks and improving insulation. While most homeowners relate insulation to heating bills and winter, a properly insulated home will also keep the temperature in your home regulated in the warmer months by reducing the amount of hot air build-up during heat spells.
• Check your windows and doors. Up to 30 per cent of the cooling in your home can be lost through poorly fitted windows and doors.
• Caulk around windows that do not open and install weather stripping around windows that do.
• Consider a condensing gas furnace when purchasing a new furnace. Condensing gas furnaces capture additional heat from flue gases before they are exhausted to heat buildings more efficiently and virtually eliminate the need for chimneys.
• Consider buying either an air source heat pump or a high efficiency furnace for your home. Both of these options will use less energy. Ground or geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient options.
• Install a programmable thermostat and program it to automatically adjust the temperature setting - lower at night and when you are at work.
• Have your furnace serviced by a qualified technician before each heating season.
• Keep your filters and ducts clean and free of dirt and debris to help your furnace run more efficiently, resulting in cost-savings on your energy bill.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
• Have your furnace and air conditioning re-assessed if your renovation project will increase the size of your home. This will ensure your systems can meet the needs of your bigger space.
• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and set your cooling system as high as is comfortable in the summer.
• Keep draperies and shades on south facing windows open in winter during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill from cold window glass.

• Install a programmable thermostat on your air cooling system to automatically adjust the temperature setting. Even an unnoticeable one-degree increase on your air conditioner setting can lead to significant energy savings.
• Don't place heat-generating devices such as lamps near the thermostat. It could sense the heat, causing the air conditioner to run longer than needed.
• Do not set the thermostat at a colder than normal setting. It will not cool the house any faster and will overshoot the desired temperature, wasting energy.
• Clean or replace the filter every three months and have your air conditioning system inspected by a qualified technician annually to help ensure proper airflow.
• Use your furnace’s air exchanger to draw the cooler air from the basement into the rest of the home.
• Let cool air into your home in the evening and at night during the summer. Close your windows and blinds during the day and keep heat outside where it belongs.
• Create shade around your home. Install awnings and overhangs that shade windows from the sun. Plant trees and shrubs to provide cool summer shade – especially in newly developed areas where shade may be limited.
• Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fan. For cold winter months, the blades should operate in a clockwise direction, helping to push the warm air from the ceiling down into the room. In the summer, the blades should operate in a counter clockwise direction as a way of creating a cool, gentle air flow.
• Avoid using the oven on hot days; cook on the stovetop, use a microwave oven or use an outdoor barbecue.
• Use a bathroom fan to remove the heat and humidity from your home when you shower or take a bath.
• Hang your washing outside to dry. If you have to use the dryer, turn it on early in the morning or late at night. Same goes for dishwashers and ovens.
• Ensure room air conditioners fit snugly to window frames. Close heat ducts in the room and remove or seal the unit with plastic after the cooling season.