Winter Tips

 

Here at Gulf Coast Electric we want to make certain you are saving as much money as possible. With the short cold winter season here in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, Niceville, and the surrounding Emerald Coast area, keep some extra cash to spend on gifts or treat yourself by following these helpful tips:

1. Assuming that you have done everything you can possibly do to seal your windows, doors, and attic access, the next best thing you can do to conserve energy in the winter is to install a programmable thermostat. Here in Northwest Florida, it is sometimes cold in the morning and evening and yet warm in the middle of the day. With a programmable thermostat you can insure that your heat and air conditioner are not running when they don’t need to be running. You may want to turn your heat off completely when you go to bed but with a programmable thermostat you don’t have to worry about waking up in a frigid house when it is time to rise. And you won’t have to think about wasting energy heating your home when you are at work. Let the programmable thermostat take the worry and expense out of conditioning your home.

2. If your water heater is not in a conditioned space, buy a blanket for it. Blankets make a big difference in the performance of the water heater. And if you live in a home that has a split floor plan with the water heater on one side of the house and the bathrooms on the other, you may have noticed that it takes a long time to get hot water from one point to the other in the winter. Often it is best to put a circulation pump on your system so that you don’t waste a lot of water and energy. All of that water pipe that is in your slab has to be heated before you get the full benefit of your hot water system. In some cases it is actually better to install a water heater on each side of the house so that you don’t have to waste so much water and heat. If you calculate the cost of the wasted water and energy that it takes to heat those pipes it can sometimes be better to have two water heaters. Also, you can make your water heater even more efficient with a timer, especially if it is an older water heater with less insulation than the newer models have today.

3. This is a big one for those of you who have fire places. Fire places are nice during those few cold periods that we have here in the Destin and Ft. Walton Beach area. During the holidays a nice fire is something that everyone enjoys, but just remember that the flue of the fire place is also a large opening for heat to escape when it is not being used and it is also a large opening for large volumes of air to enter when the air conditioning system is on in the house. Always make sure the damper is fully closed when the fire place is not in operation. Your air conditioning system is capable of exchanging a large volume of air when there is an opening for it to do so.

4. Turn off the vents in any rooms that are unoccupied, bundle up, dress like it is winter, turn the thermostat down to 68 degrees and put on a nice sweater or throw on a comforter while you are watching TV. Enjoy your favorite warm drink and save money at the same time.

5. Lastly but very importantly, remember that when we start putting up Christmas decorations each year there are always articles about homeowners being injured or electrocuted by their Christmas lights. Let’s remember that the holidays are not a time to throw caution and safety to the wind. All outdoor Christmas lighting should be plugged into a Ground Fault Receptacle that is completely weatherproof when it is in use. Ground Fault Receptacles save thousands of lives every year, especially in our coastal area where we have so many docks, boats, jet ski lifts, and outdoor equipment. Make it a safe holiday season and test your GFI receptacles as recommended. Check old Christmas lighting wires before you put them up and make sure that they are not subject to damage by doors and windows being opened. Also, make sure that the Christmas lighting you are installing outside is rated for outdoor use. If you are not sure about the safety of your electrical outlets outside, call Gulf Coast Electric. We will check out your GFI receptacles and make sure that they are safe and working properly.