16 OCTOBER 12, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Easy winter weatherproofi ng
Households heating with natural
gas, which is almost half of U.S.
homes, are expected to spend
an average of $635 on heating this
winter - 22 percent more than last
winter, according to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration - but
some easy seasonal maintenance tips
can make a big diff erence.
"There are several simple, inexpensive
ways consumers can save money
on utility bills this winter, and still stay
warm and comfortable as temperatures
begin to drop," said Jill Murphy,
a home heating and energy effi ciency
expert with Lennox Industries. "By
taking the initiative to weatherproof
their home before the start of the
cold-weather season, homeowners
will be able to enjoy a warmer and
more energy-effi cient house."
To help consumers combat high utility
bills and achieve optimum indoor comfort
this winter, Murphy and Lennox
suggest a few easy tips for staying safe,
dry and comfortable as the cold comes:
The attic. The attic is one of the biggest
culprits when it comes to heat loss.
Without adequate attic insulation, your
heating system will have to work harder
and will be less eff ective as it tries to
maintain a warm temperature in the
home. Statistics show that older homes,
especially those built before 1980, oft en
don't have enough insulation.
Windows and doors. Air leaks
caused by cracks or holes around
windows and doors can enable warm
indoor air to escape and cold outside
air to seep in, preventing you from
maintaining a consistent indoor
temperature. Murphy suggests
sealing cracks with caulk or weather
stripping.
Exterior walls. It's also important to
look for cracks and holes around the
perimeter of your home. To identify
air leaks in outside-facing walls, try
holding a candle near suspect areas to
reveal draft s and then seal leaks with
caulk or weather stripping.
Fireplace and chimney. To prevent
warm indoor air from escaping the
home, Murphy also reminds homeowners
to keep fireplace dampers
closed when not in use; however, always
make sure the damper is fully
opened before starting a fire. You
also should inspect the chimney cap
to ensure that the chimney won't
have a smoke or water leak when
you fire it up this winter.
Heating system. Keeping your
heating system running efficiently
is the most significant way to reduce
utility bills and stay warm this
winter. To reduce the potential for a
breakdown in the middle of winter,
Murphy recommends having your
furnace inspected by certified
technicians before old man winter
arrives, and consider replacing a
system that is more than 15 years old.
Programmable thermostats. To
further maximize savings on your
heating bills, Murphy recommends
installing a smart thermostat, such
as the Lennox iComfort E30, which
works with Amazon Alexa smart
home devices and is compatible
with any brand of HVAC system.
The roof. The roof is your home's
first defense against falling rain,
ice and snow, so it's important to
inspect it to make sure shingles
are in place to prevent water from
seeping inside the house. If large
gaps are found, hire a professional
roofing company to repair the problem
areas.
By making a few minor adjustments
around the house, homeowners
can help alleviate safety
concerns and reduce the amount
of wasted energy, all while staying
comfortable during the chilly
season. To learn more about home
energy efficiency and how to save
money on utility bills, visit https://
www.lennox.com or on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/Lennox.
Courtesy BPT
AT HOME
5 easy ways to turn your house into a smart home
There was a time when setting up
a smart home was a labor-intensive
endeavor. You had to know
which devices worked together, spend
tedious days getting everything to
work just right, then master complicated
soft ware to control the whole
experience.
Things have changed. Nowadays, smart
homes are more sophisticated than ever.
You can set up your entire home right
from your smartphone, and everything
can be controlled by your voice.
That's right, you don't need to know
any codes or remember any complex
steps to reap the benefi ts of a smart
home. Do you want to dim the lights
for movie night, listen to your favorite
album while cooking dinner or turn
on the lawn sprinklers without leaving
the couch? All you have to do is ask.
At the center of a smart home is
a voice service like Amazon Alexa
on the Echo, Echo Dot or Echo Show,
which allows you to control more than
1,000 devices using just your voice.
You can connect to as many or as few
smart devices as you want. Services
like Alexa also let you access the latest
news and weather, set reminders and
even order dinner for the night.
For a sample of what's possible with
a smart home, here are fi ve devices
that can lead you to a whole new home
experience!
Wemo Mini Smart Plug. This Wi-
Fi-enabled plug can transform almost
every appliance in your home into a
voice-enabled device. Plug your coff ee
maker, lamp or fan into it, then simply
pair it with your voice service. With
just a simple command like "Alexa,
start the coff ee," you'll soon smell the
heavenly aromas of fresh-brewed java.
TP-Link Multicolor LED Bulb. There
are light bulbs, and then there are smart
bulbs. This LED bulb contains multiple
colors, from warm reds to cool blues,
plus hundreds of other shades and
tints that allow you to light your space
according to the mood or occasion, all
through a simple voice command.
Neato Botvac. Not too many people
like cleaning, so when they hear
there's a Wi-Fi-enabled robot vacuum
that automatically cleans fl oors for
you, their ears perk up. Connect the
Neato Botvac to your Amazon Alexa
and voila, cleaning the fl oors is as easy
as, "Alexa, ask Neato to start cleaning."
Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat. Smart
thermostats are wildly popular for
the simple reason that they save homeowners
money. If you forget to turn
down the heat when you step out, you
can do so from your smartphone. With
sensors that manage hot and cold spots,
easy programming features and more,
this smart thermostat can save you an
average of 23 percent on heating and
cooling costs each year.
Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or Echo
Show. A smart home is not just about
smart devices, it's also about making
your life easier. For instance, if you're
throwing a dinner party and want
music to set the mood, just ask "Alexa,
play jazz music." The same is true if
you want to check the weather, order
food for a night in or see what's on your
calendar for the day. If you fi nd you're
out of laundry detergent or cooking oil,
you can easily order by asking Alexa
to have it delivered to your home. All
you have to do is ask.
The beauty of a smart home is that
you can pick and choose the features
you want. Whether you want to clean,
adjust the lighting or listen to your
favorite song, with a voice service
like Amazon Alexa and Amazon Echo,
you'll experience convenience and
the fruits of technology in a whole
new way.
Courtesy BPT
