The Derosia Team

Colder weather is quickly approaching! It's time to dig out the scarves, coats, and gloves. You know how to get yourself ready for colder weather, but do you know how to prepare your home. Check out this blog post for some tips on winterizing your home. A little time and effort now, will you save you money later! Filters: Replace or clean furnace filters once a month! Dirty filters decrease air flow and increase energy demand. Ceiling fans: Run them in reverse. Most of them have a switch located on the base to change the direction they circulate air. Counterclockwise direction provides cooling air while clockwise makes it warmer. Hot Water Heater: Turn down the hot water heater setting. Most are set at 140 degree Fahrenheit. If you lower it to 120 degrees, you could reduce water heating costs by 6 to 10 percent.  Drafts: Avoid losing 4 to 30% of your energy use by blocking areas with drafts. Simply place a rolled towel along drafty doors to he...

Fall Maintenance: Now is the time to get your house ready for winter! Use this checklist to ensure your home is “winter ready” Stow the Mower: Use fuel stabilizer to keep your fuel from degrading over the winter. Top off your mower tank with stabilized gas and let it run for about 5 minutes before stowing away for the winter.  Another method is to let your mower run dry before stowing. Dry the Drip: Remove garden hoses from outdoor spigots and store once dry. Also, turn off the water shutoff valve to any outdoor faucets. Make sure to do this early, so that you won’t be caught by surprise if temperatures take an unexpected drop. Also, make sure that sprinkler systems are shut off and drained. Caulk the Crack: Check the exterior of your home and seal up any cracks around trim and siding, door frames, windows, and pipes with matching exterior caulk to prevent moisture from your house and to prevent air leaks that waste energy. De-Gunk the Gutters: Keep your ...