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Preparing for Winter Weather: Tips to Stay Warmer and Save Energy

With the beautiful fall foliage in the parks, Halloween, and Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s hard to imagine winter will be arriving in New York City soon. But cold weather will be here sooner than you think. If you’re a property owner or manager, there are ways to get ahead of the game. Here are our expert tips for preparing for winter weather, so you’ll stay cozy and won’t break the bank between now and springtime.

Add Insulation to Vulnerable Areas

Prevent heat loss

One of the best ways to both stay comfortable and lower heating bills is to insulate wisely before winter arrives. Poorly insulated areas are subject to heat loss, which makes interiors chilly and drives up fuel costs in an endless battle to warm rooms.

Where do you want to insulate?

• North-facing walls
• Spaces that are constantly in the shade or wind
• Thin exterior walls
• Attics and rooms just below the roof
• Areas above crawl spaces

You can have a professional conduct an energy audit to see exactly where you’re losing heat. Don’t forget to make sure doors and windows seal well. If thermal windows aren’t in the budget this year, thermal window treatments can cut down on drafts.

Also, remember to insulate pipes that run along the same walls that require insulation. If you’re getting lukewarm shower water or not enough heat from hydronic radiators, but the boiler is going full bore, you’re probably losing significant amounts of energy through pipes in cold spots.

Install Smart Thermostats

Get the right indoor temperature

Most people in New York City co-ops and condos face the typical Goldilocks dilemma: they’re either too hot or too cold in winter. How do you get that “just right” temperature inside? Try a smart thermostat.

Smart thermostats can be coordinated with thermostatic radiator valves, so even buildings with steam heat can enjoy individual temperature control in each unit. Smart thermostats are programmable, meaning they can be set to raise or lower the temperature at predetermined times, such as when retiring at night or getting up in the morning.

These thermostats can usually be controlled via a mobile device too, so occupants can raise or lower the temperature remotely. If someone is working late or coming home early, they can change the automatic temperature settings accordingly.

People save money by using programmable smart thermostats because they don’t run their heat as high when they don’t need to. And yet, they can protect against the disaster of frozen pipes from those who mistakenly turn their heat off (instead of to the lower limit of 55 degrees Fahrenheit) when they go away for a while.

Check Heat and Hot Water Components

Prevent breakdowns at the worst possible moment

It’s bad news to have your boiler, electric heaters, or hot water heater fail any time; it’s a disaster when it happens in the middle of winter. You can lower the risk of this happening by meticulously checking all these components before cold weather starts in earnest.

Professional maintenance by Bolt Electric or our partners at the Omnia Mechanical Group is a smart move. We can eliminate electrical supply problems and replace worn elements before you endure a complete breakdown. Our associates can go over your boiler system and its pumps, in addition to checking your pipes.

If you’re a property manager, you know how aggravating no heat or hot water can be. Stay on top of the situation now, and you’ll have done yourself a huge favor come January.

Prepare Rooftop Equipment for Winter

Enhance ventilation

“Out of sight, out of mind” might be the old adage, but it spells trouble when it comes to your rooftop equipment. Before the snow flies, you want to clean your roof of fallen leaves and blown debris that can clog exhaust fans and create problems with indoor ventilation.

Good indoor air quality is more important during winter, when people have their windows closed and when colds and flu abound. Keeping the air moving will also cut down on stale, unpleasant odors in public spaces, reduce irritants that provoke allergies and asthma, and discourage the growth of mold and mildew.

Consider creating a snow removal plan to keep rooftop equipment clear after a storm. If blowing and drifting snow are a problem, you may want to think about adding protective panels around your rooftop equipment.

Understand Which Electrically Powered Items Use the Most Energy

Reduce electricity consumption

With energy costs particularly high this year and winter being a time when most folks use more electricity, you may be looking to reduce your bills wherever possible. Here are some tips for saving money with Con Edison:

• Submeter the building, so each unit pays its own electrical bill and can monitor electricity usage in real time to make necessary adjustments. The introduction of smart meters in New York City is the perfect time to make this change.
• Replace old appliances with new energy-efficient ones.
• Use an easy plug-in voltage meter to see how much energy items are drawing. You’d be surprised by how much juice things like gaming systems use, even when they’re inactive.
• Swap out incandescent light bulbs for LED bulbs, which last longer and use fewer kilowatt hours.
• Say goodbye to outdoor lights that stay on 24/7 and replace them with motion sensor or photocell fixtures that only turn on when needed.
• Instead of using portable heaters, try adding ceiling fans to chilly rooms. They can push warm air downwards for added heat, and as a bonus, they’ll provide cooling in the summer to take a bite out of AC costs.

Whether you need assistance checking over your electric heating, adding smart thermostats for steam radiators, or installing new appliances, Bolt Electric is here to help. Call us at 212-434-0098 to schedule an appointment and be ready when winter makes its first appearance.