SCE&G's Tips for Heating and Cooling Your Home

(WLTX) -- News19 is on your side online with SCE&G's tips on how to keep your home warm during the chilly months on the calendar.

Heating and Cooling

--> Dust or vacuum ducts, registers, radiators and refrigerator coils regularly, and bleed air from hot water radiators periodically. Keep your appliances free of dirt and grease, that can reduce operating efficiency.

--> Keep heating and air conditioning system filters clean. When the filters are dirty or clogged, these systems must work harder, requiring more energy.

--> Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer. If you have a forced air furnace, check your filters and replace them as needed. Generally, they should be changed about once every month or two, especially during periods of high usage.

--> Have a professional check and clean your equipment once a year. If the unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing it with one of the newer, energy-efficient units. This would go far to reduce your energy consumption, especially if the existing equipment is in poor condition.

--> Check your ductwork for dirt streaks, especially near seams. These indicate air leaks, and they should be sealed with duct mastic.

--> Insulate any ducts or pipes that travel through unheated spaces. An insulation R-Value of six is the recommended minimum.

--> Have your heating system checked periodically by a licensed professional.

--> Don't heat or cool unused space in your home.

--> Close supply registers in unused rooms but do not close more than 20 percent of them. This might interfere with the operation of your central heating and cooling system. Do not block any return air vents or grills.

--> Place aluminum foil reflectors behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room.

--> Windows can be one of your home's most attractive features, but also account for 10 percent to 25 percent of your heating bill. Single-pane windows are the most inefficient, but it is possible to increase their efficiency. You can install storm windows to reduce air leaks and reduce heat loss by 25 percent ? 50 percent. Storm windows should have weather stripping at all moveable joints and be made of strong durable materials.

--> Repair and weatherize your current storm windows, if necessary.

--> Look for dirty spots around your window. These often indicate a hole where air leaks into your house.

--> Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.

--> In the winter, close your curtains and shades at night and open them during the day to let the sun warm the room.

--> Low-cost options for improving windows are caulking, weather stripping, retrofit window films and window treatments.

--> Moveable insulation, such as insulating shades, shutters, and drapes can be used on the inside of windows to reduce heat loss in the winter and reduce heat gain in the summer.

--> Shading devices such as awnings, exterior shutters, or screens can be used to reduce unwanted heat gain in the summer. In some cases, these window treatments are more cost-effective than energy efficient window replacements and should be considered first.

--> Tinted glass and tinted window films have long been used in commercial buildings to reduce heat gain through windows. Improved, lightly tinted windows are becoming more common for homeowners. These new glazings reduce the solar heat gain without reducing too much visibility.