What are some simple ways a tenant can help reduce their heating costs this winter?
The following tips for energy efficiencies may be helpful to tenants to reduce their heating costs:
- Replace furnace air filters on a regular schedule.
- Turn down the thermostat at night while sleeping.
- Lower the thermostat setting during the day when no one is home.
- Reduce cold air drafts from entering living spaces at doorways or window sills by placing draft dodgers along bottoms of exterior doors and in window sills. Windows should be kept shut and locked. If allowed, weatherproof windows with insulating film, and install insulating gaskets in electrical outlets.
- Open any register vents or air returns inside the living spaces in the rental unit. Vents may be wall mounted, in the floor or in the ceiling. Make sure furniture has not been placed over or against vents or returns.
- Keep the heat on at the premises. Do not turn off the heat in the rental unit when leaving for the holidays or taking a vacation trip. Heat should be kept at a minimum of 55° at all times during the winter season. Notify the landlord if there is a planned extended absence from the rental unit.
- Keep kitchen and bathroom warm water faucets slowly dripping to prevent pipes from freezing if the outside temperature is expected to fall below 20°.
- Keep the kitchen sink and bathroom vanity cabinet doors open so warmer air can circulate around pipes to prevent pipes from freezing.
- Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to rotate clockwise to help circulate warm air that gathers near the ceiling. This will push the warm air down to lower areas.
- Use the exhaust fan above the stove when cooking.
- Run the exhaust fan in the bathroom during and after a shower to reduce moisture in the rental unit.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient LED bulbs.
- Lay down rugs on bare floors for more insulation during the winter.