Winter is just around the corner, and the Department of Commerce is urging Minnesotans to prepare for the cold before it is here to stay.
Below are tips and resources to help ensure you are prepared for a cold Minnesota winter.
* Change your furnace filter regularly. At a minimum, filters should be changed every three months. That said, filters may need to be changed more often, depending on usage. Check your filter monthly, and if it looks dirty, change it. A dirty filter will slow down airflow and make the system work harder, wasting energy.
* Tune-up your heating equipment yearly. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve gas mileage, an annual tune-up of your heating system can improve efficiency and ensure things run smoothly over the long run. Consider scheduling a tune-up before peak heating season arrives.
* Seal your heating and cooling ducts. Ducts that move air to and from a forced-air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Ensuring they are sealed and insulated properly can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by 20 percent or more.
* Consider installing ENERGY STAR-qualified equipment. If your heating system is old or not performing efficiently, consider having it evaluated by an HVAC contractor and consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. It’s better to plan to replace an old furnace or boiler instead of waiting until late fall or mid-winter.
If you use propane to heat your home:
Buy early! Fill your tanks early to avoid paying higher prices when demand peaks.
Consider a budget plan to spread out payments. A law signed by former Gov. Mark Dayton after a shortage in 2014 requires most propane distributors to offer customers a budget payment plan. Distributors must notify budget-plan customers of price or fee changes that may affect their monthly payment amount by more than 20 percent.
Know your rights
The 2014 law also established consumer protections, including transparent pricing. Distributors are required to inform customers of the current per-gallon price and additional charges, fees, and discounts. There is also a prohibition on extra fees, such as adding any service, distribution, transportation, or other fees to the bills of customers who enter into a contract with the distributor.
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