| Simple
Fixes for the Simple Guy
 Preparing
Your Home for Winter
How to
insulate your energy dollars
By Ryan
Patrick
Experts anticipate a
significant spike in energy costs this winter. It’s a
frustrating situation, as we consumers are powerless to resist.
Or are we? While it’s true that we may not be able to shake
world leaders into dialing down these crazy fuel costs, we do
have the capability to reduce the amount of energy we consume.
Weather-stripping
A significant amount of a home’s heat is lost around windows
and doors, particularly in older homes. By purchasing some
weather-stripping at your local hardware store, you can keep
dollar bills from floating through the cracks each day.
While there are many
different types of stripping, including some that use nails or
screws, adhesive strip is a favorite for many because it is
simple to install. Find out how much stripping you will need by
measuring each window and door that you wish to seal. Cut the
stripping to fit each seam and then apply around each window.
Self-adhesive foam
works great around doors. Clean the stop molding with soapy
water and allow it to dry. Cut self-adhesive foam to fit each
side and the top of the door. Then, peel the back from the foam
and press it into the inside of the stop molding.
To complete a door
seal, you’ll need to purchase a door sweep on the bottom. To
do this, cut the sweep to fit the width of the door. Then, with
the door shut, screw or nail the sweep to the door so that the
bottom is in contact with the floor. This will keep cold air
from intruding into your home. While many people opt to put up
plastic over windows, studies indicate that weather stripping
works just as well without making it difficult to see outside.
Leaks
While windows and doors can be heat-stealing culprits, there are
other leaks to look for that can cost you money. Look for gaps
around chimneys, making sure chimney flues aren’t worn and
that they close completely. Also look for cut-throughs for
pipes, vents, exhausts (like a dryer) and for cracks in
unfinished areas such as closets. If necessary, seal them with
insulation and caulking. Each of these can add up to the
equivalent of a couple of opened windows, and in January, that’s
significant heat loss.
Hot water tank
You can see big savings by taking a couple simple, energy-saving
steps with your hot water tank. If your hot water tank is old
enough that it has fiberglass insulation instead of foam,
installing an insulating blanket, which can be purchased at a
hardware store, will make a big difference. Additionally, many
tanks are pre-set to 140 degrees, which is more heat than you
need. By turning that temperature down to 120 degrees, less
energy is needed to heat the water and savings will be made.
Insulation
That pink stuff in your attic is a very important element in
keeping your home warm and toasty. Heat rises, and if your attic
is poorly insulated, your home will vent away hard-earned
dollars worth of heat. A good rule of thumb is that if you can
see the ceiling joists, then you need more insulation. At least
12 inches is recommended by experts. This can be easily done
yourself. Simply unroll the insulation, cutting as needed with a
utility knife, to provide complete coverage. Don’t be chintzy
with it; aggressively push the insulation into corners, cracks
and crevices. You should wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants,
gloves and goggles to prevent any skin or eye irritation from
working with the material. Don’t worry, you don’t need any
special training, simply be diligent about covering everything
evenly.
Also, consider
purchasing some insulation for hot water pipes and heating ducts
if they run through unheated areas of your home. Specially
shaped insulation can be purchased at your local home
improvement store for such jobs.
It all adds up
When trying to make a significant dent in that energy bill, try
to remember that it is a cumulative effort and every little bit
counts: Turn down the thermostat. Even if it’s just two or
three degrees, it will make a difference. Turn off your lights
when leaving the room. It is estimated that 25 percent of the
average American’s electric bill comes from lighting.
Reversing your ceiling fans and turning onto low will help push
the rising heat back down into the living space and will help
circulate the warmth.
Open your curtains
on windows that face the sun to allow solar heat to permeate
your home and then close those curtains when the sun passes to
keep the heat from leaving the room. Be sure to change the
filter on your furnace. A dirty filter is not only a fire
hazard, but impedes airflow and efficiency.
While these small
things may seem insignificant on their own, when combined and
done consistently, they can make a big difference in your energy
bills. |
