How to winterproof your home and cut down on energy costs
Utility bills are expected to rise this winter as natural gas, electricity, furnace oil and other energy sources continue to skyrocket in price.
This is why you should make sure your home is winterproofed, and you heating and air conditioning system is operating efficiently to provide clean air and avoid breakdowns. While you can pay a lot to have a professional technician look at your system and change the filters, it’s something you can do yourself.
“A dirty filter can release those particles into the air and can eventually damage your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system,” Dan Wroclawski with Consumer Reports told CTV News Toronto.
FURNACES
First, start up your furnace and make sure hot air is coming out the vents.
To replace your filter, make sure the replacement filter is the right size – you’ll see the dimensions on the filter’s side. Be sure to install it facing the right way, which should also be indicated on the filter’s edge.
HUMIDIFIERS
It’s not just your furnace filter that deserves attention, your heating system removes moisture from the air which can cause itchy eyes and dry skin. For this reason, if you have a humidifier, you should make sure it’s ready for another season as well.
“A good humidifier goes a long way to keeping you comfortable, but you need to empty the tank daily and clean it regularly to prevent bacteria from developing,” Wroclawski said.
Generally, drain, rinse and towel-dry the tank daily and every week, deep clean the machine with vinegar and water scrubbing the base with a toothbrush and rinse well.
The tank can be cleaned with a combination of water and vinegar and you can check the owner's manual for how often to replace the filter or wick.
AIR PURIFIERS
Air purifiers are meant to filter the air in a single room, not the whole house, but they can't work at full capacity unless air is pulled through a clean filter.
It should be changed according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually every six to twelve months.
WINDOWS
With energy costs rising, you'll also want to make sure all your windows are closed up tight and spend some time looking for air leaks.
Investing a few dollars in weather stripping or spray foam could help you save on your heating bill this winter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.