Warming up made easy

• Keep warm air from leaking out. Add weatherstripping to seal up drafty doors, windows and the attic hatch. Use expandable spray foam or caulk to seal up small holes around exhaust fans, dryer vents, pipes or holes around plumbing and electrical conduits.
• Turn down your thermostat five to 10 degrees when you’re sleeping or away from home. Every five degrees you set back saves 15 percent on the heating portion of your electric bill.
• If you sleep with your window open, shut the bedroom door so you don't lose heat in the rest of the house.
• If you have an electric furnace, consider upgrading to a high-efficiency heat pump system, which may cut the heating portion of your electric bill 30 to 50 percent. Tacoma Power offers up to $1,250 in rebates and services on qualified new heat pump installations.
• Have your heating system serviced according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Insulation matters

• Add insulation to your ceiling and under the floor. Seal and insulate furnace ductwork in the attic and crawlspace. Up to 30 percent of your home’s warm air can be lost through leaky ducts, so have ducts tested and sealed. Tacoma Power offers up to $3,450 in rebates to make those improvements.
• If you store things in your attic, build shelves above the insulation instead of placing items on the floor, on top of insulation. Insulation works best when it’s fluffed up.

Insulate your pipes, too

• Put foam covers on your water faucets to prevent freezing.
• Prevent frozen pipes that rupture and burst by insulating them, along with valves and hose bibs. Get more information.

For more information about Tacoma Power rebates, contact us at (253) 502-8377 or power@cityoftacoma.org.