If a warm-air furnace is used to heat the house, check the filter to see if it needs replacement. If the oil or gas burner for the heating system was not cleaned and tuned up before the energy audit, it should be done as soon as possible. If not properly adjusted, a heating system can result in greater fuel consumption, thus raising your utility bills. For efficient operation, heating systems must be periodically tuned up.
There are several devices on the market to be fitted around the chimney, supposedly reducing fuel consumption and conserving heat, however many of these furnace attachments do not quite live up to their claims.
From a safety point of view, the automatic flue damper is an item of concern. This device is designed to close the furnace chimney after the burner turns off, thus conserving heat by keeping room air from being drawn up the chimney. Should the automatic flue damper fail to open when the burner fires, poisonous carbon monoxide fumes will vent into the house.
The degree day is a unit used to express the severity of the climate in an area. The reference temperature for evaluating degree days is 65 degrees F. Degree days are the number of degrees that the average temperature is less than 65 degrees F. For instance, if for a 24-hour period during the heating season the high and low temperatures are 50 degrees F and 30 degrees F, respectively, the average temperature will be 40 degrees F. Consequently, the degree-day number for that day will be 65-40, or 25. The total number of degree days for an area is the sum of the degree-day numbers during the heating season. To find out the total number of degree days for your area, check with your local utility company.
If your heating system is controlled by a manual thermostat, you may want to consider replacing it with an automatic-lock one. With an automatic-lock thermostat you will be able to regulate the amount of the setback, as well as its duration. Depending on your necessities and requirements, thermostats with double setbacks are also an option.
If you have a central air conditioning system in your house, its efficiency will also depend on proper maintenance. In order to maximize the efficiency of its operation, it must be cleaned and tuned up regularly. Moreover, before the cooling season, have the system checked to see if it needs a refrigerant charge. If it is low in refrigerant, the system will cool but it will not operate efficiently.
Check the condition of the compressor to make sure it is in the shade and the airflow into and out of the unit is unobstructed. If necessary, build a sunscreen to shield it from the sun, but be careful not to obstruct the airflow.