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Andy Morin, owner with his wife Lynn, of Servco Oil in Wilton, has some good tips to help homeowners keep warm. "If you have a hot air system, change the filters in the air handlers at least twice a year," he says. And if you have lots of fluffy pets, do it more often. Clean filters will help your system run more efficiently, which translates into money saved. "Most homeowners can change their own filters," he adds, but if people need help they should call their service provider.
"Older homes often have hot water baseboard systems which are very efficient when kept clean and unblocked by floor pillows or furniture," Andy continues.The heating element is inside a metal casing, the top part of which is a damper which should always be kept open. "People need to vacuum those elements regularly with the brush attachment," he says. Dust bunnies and pet fur get trapped in all the nooks and crannies. The net result is less heat.
A common mistake is to run carpeting or new wood flooring right under the radiator. "Cold air is drawn over the heating element. The space at floor level needs to be a minimum of one inch to allow the system to work properly," he says, adding that people should leave plenty of space in front of radiators.
Finally, Andy advises homeowners with retro-fitted air conditioning systems how to avoid drafts. "In some homes, air is drawn up through the air return into the air handler, which is often in a cold attic. The air gets chilled and then sucked back down into the house," he explains. A simple fix is to turn the air handler off, remove the air filter and replace it with a piece of styrofoam board. This will prevent air circulation. In the spring, remember to take out the board and put back the filter, preferably a new one. And, of course, don't forget to turn the system back on.
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