ComEd Offers Tips to Stay Warm and Save During Winter Months

ComEd is reminding customers now is a good time to prepare their homes for the upcoming winter heating season. Because more efficient energy use can result in lower monthly bills, the company released the following suggestions for customers to follow for increased comfort and savings this winter:

• Have home heating systems cleaned and inspected by a professional each year to ensure safety and optimum efficiency. Be sure to change the heater's filter prior to the heating season, and check its condition monthly.
• Buy an insulating wrap for home water heaters, and make sure water pipes and exterior walls are well insulated. Insulation is a cost- effective way to increase the home's comfort and energy efficiency.      
• Inspect the caulking and weather-stripping around all windows, door and any openings for utility services. Replace caulking and weather stripping as necessary. A drafty house lets warm air escape and is much more costly to keep warm.
• Clean or vacuum all heating vents. This allows air to flow more efficiently through the home. Also, be sure heating vents are not covered by furniture or window drapes.
• Remove window air conditioners if possible, or install an air conditioner cover to eliminate drafts.
• Keep fireplace dampers closed tightly when not in use.
• Reverse the rotation of ceiling fan blades. During the winter, blades should spin so the warm air that has risen can be re-distributed around the room.
• Open blinds or curtains of sun-exposed rooms during the day to allow solar heating to warm the rooms. Close them at night to keep heat in the house.
• Install an ENERGYSTAR® Programmable thermostat, which will automatically adjust your home's temperature when you are sleeping or at work. ENERGYSTAR® thermostats are pre-programmed with four  temperature settings, which you can modify to suit your lifestyle. Be sure the thermostat you purchase is compatible with your heating system.
• Switch to more energy efficient lighting—such as CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs), which use up to 66 percent less energy and last up to 10 times as long as standard incandescent light bulbs.

"Energy conservation doesn't have to be expensive. Customers can stay warm this winter and save by using these easy low-cost steps," said ComEd President J. Barry Mitchell. "Efficient energy usage will produce annual cost savings for customers."

Read more in the official ComEd press release.