Air Leaks: Checking and Sealing

Fall is here! And it's time to start prepping your house for the colder weather. Did you know that even if you  have insulated your walls and updated your window there could still be small leaks sucking out the heat and costing you money? Small spaces, like your light sockets and outlets, could lack insulation and be the source.

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How to check for energy loss: Turn off the furnace and any fans, also shut the doors and windows in your house. Light an incense stick and hold it near the outlets and light switches. Any movement? There's a leak!

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How to correct a leak: At a home improvement store, like Home Depot, they have foam electrical outlet and wall covering insulation. By removing your outlet or wall plate, placing the insulation over the outlet and reattaching the plate, you can prevent these leaks. Not an expensive task, this minimally time consuming change could make your house a little cozier this winter!

Have questions on your energy bill? Contact an IDT Energy Customer Service Rep today!

Groundhog Says More Winter on the Way

Word is out that Punxsutawney Phil, the famed groundhog who predicts the weather when he either sees or does not see his shadow on February 2nd of each year has seen his shadow this year, foretelling six more weeks of winter for the eastern United States.

This means that in New York, where IDT Energy supplies electricity and natural gas to customers throughout the area, people can be expected to continue to use large amounts of electricity to heat their homes for at least six more weeks. This is a great time to examine your home for any obvious places where cold air is getting in and warm air is leaking out, and weatherizing those spots with weather stripping. Take special care to check around doors, window frames, attics and basements.

How accurate are Phil’s predictions? Well, according to carefully kept chronicles, Phil has seen his shadow 99 out of 114 observations, predicting six more weeks of winter weather. When we compare this with the actual weather according to the Stormfax Almanac, Phil is correct only 39% of the time. But considering that predicting the weather six weeks in advance is hard even for the most “weathered” of weathermen, maybe Phil aint doin’ too bad.

Dont wait six more weeks. IDT Energy urges you to insulate your home today and start saving on your energy bill.