Ok - what was up with Monday’s (1-7-08) weather? Sunny skies and 65-degree temperatures in Washington County, PA! Get ready Pittsburgh, old man winter is coming and boy is he angry! Just don’t ask me when he is going to show up. I’m not a qualified “Weather Guesser”! Just a Pittsburgh real estate agent. But make no mistake about it, when our typical winter weather does arrive, we’re not going to like it. To brace for the cold snowy weather, here are a few timely energy saving tips for your Pittsburgh area home. These helpful reminders should go a long ways to prevent old man winter from taking a big “bite” out of your wallet!

• Perform an energy analysis. Don’t let this intimidate. It’s not that hard. Simply visit The EPA website to get specific recommendations to make your Pittsburgh home, condo or townhome more energy efficient.
• Make sure your home has sufficient insulation to keep the cold out and your heat in. For more information on recommended “R-values” for our area, go to this Energy Star website for maximum protection from the cold.

• Have your furnace checked annually and tuned up to insure it is operating at peak efficiency. Better to practice some preventive maintenance than to be left “out in the cold”.
• Change your air filter often
• Install a “programmable” thermostat
• Seal your heating and cooling ducts
• If you heat with a boiler, make sure it is an Energy Star product manufactured for peak efficiency
• If practical, replace your older furnace with an energy efficient Energy Star product

If you happen to be in the market to buy a new or existing home in Washington County, be sure you keep these tips in mind when previewing homes for sale in Pittsburgh and the greater Washington County area.

Tell us about your experience!

If you have purchased and installed an Energy Star appliance or furnace, has it had a positive impact on your energy bills? Tell us about it.

Until my next post,

Jim Dolanch
Your Pittsburgh Real Estate Resource