Turtle Tips

Spring and Summer Tips

1. If possible, keep your room air conditioner out of the sun. Room air conditioners work when kept cool. Installing one in a north-facing wall is usually idea.
2. Consider installing a ceiling fan. During hot weather a ceiling fan will create a cool breeze and keep the air circulating in your home.
3. Get rid of hot air. Use an exhaust fan to blow hot air out of your kitchen while your're cooking. The savings on your cooling costs far outweigh the electricity used by the fan. Also, take lukewarm showers and baths to avoid humid air, which holds more heat.
4. Close blinds, drapes and shades during the hottest part of the day. This keeps the strong sunlight from heating your home.
5. Use your microwave or countertop appliances for cooking instead of the oven or stove.
6. What says summer better than burgers and hot dogs ? Instead of using your oven or stove, which can generate heat on an already hot day, fire up the outdoor grill for cooking. You can also use your microwave or other countertop appliances in place of the stove or oven.
7. Postpone laundry and dishwashing until nighttime to avoid generatign extra heat in your home. Also, consider taking advantage of the warmer air and dry your laundry outside.
8. If you have a pool, turn off your filter overnight when the pool is not in use.

Change your Filters

Changing your filters regularly will reduce the energy it takes for your air conditioner to run efficiently.

Check your Airflow

Ensure proper airflow to indoor supply and return vents and around your outdoor unit. Keep the outdoor unit free of leaves, grass, shrubs, snow or anything that may block airflow.

Leave It To The Professionals

Be sure to have a trained heating and air conditioning professional perform routine maintenance on your HVAC unit.

Weatherize

Be sure your insulation meets new energy efficiency standards, so that your unit won't have to work overtime to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Improving Energy Efficiency in Your Home

Want to know a few ways to improve the energy efficiency in your home? Try these tips.

1. Check all window and door locks for proper operation
2. Review you fire escape plan with your family
3. Have a heating professional check you heating system every year
4. Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone
5. Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring 
6. Install ceiling insulation
7. Keep curtains closed to prevent heat loss
8. Close off unheated areas
9. Don’t overheat your room; increasing the thermostat setting by 1 degree can increase costs by 3 percent
10. Clean the heating filter regularly
11. Wear warm enough clothing to help cut heating cost
12. Choose energy-efficient appliances when making new purchases
13. Turn off appliances when not in use
14. Keep heaters free of dust and fluff around the fan and reflective surfaces
15. Use compact, high-efficiency fluorescent lighting in areas where this is appropriate; it can save you up to 80 percent in cost

We’ll be providing energy efficiency tips throughout the year, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back often.

Pressure Washing Tip

When pressure washing, check to make sure the exhaust is free of debris and not too close to any surface that could melt. Also make sure that there is adequate ventilation.