Winterizing Your Home

At the beginning of each Fall, every homeowner needs to make sure their home is ready for the winter.  With a little preparation, money can be saved on the price of heating a home.  Here are a few helpful hints.

 

Window & Doors -
Two of the biggest causes of heat loss are windows and doors, especially if the frames have not been caulked and sealed in recent years. Caulking around window and door frames – both inside and out – does not take much time, but can pay for itself quickly.  Simply check the outside of each frame and look for deteriorating caulking. If it's in bad shape, remove it with a putty or utility knife and install a good exterior sealant/caulking compound.

Older windows themselves can be the source of heat loss as well. Newer, more energy-efficient windows are not always an option. That doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to reduce the heat loss here as well. For a more affordable approach, plastic insulation kits can give windows of any size or shape a better insulating factor when installed on the inside of the home. Kits start at around $3 per window, and usually include everything needed for installation.

Heating System Check-Up

While this one may involve the help of a professional, it can be well worth the cost. Have your furnace or heating system inspected at least once a year, before the elements require you to turn it on. A simple inspection of the working parts can ensure that you'll have heat when you need it, and it can prevent a costly after-hours emergency call when you'd least expect it! While you're at it, make sure your vents are clean and any filters have been changed.

 

Simply changing the filter once a month, a process that takes less than a minute and costs only a couple of dollars, saves not only on heating costs, but wear-and-tear on the furnace itself.  Each filter has the size marked on it to ensure you get the right one.  Also, most home improvement stores sell the filters by the pack; this will help you save even more money.

 

Programmable Thermostat -
You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours.  You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.  Using a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the times you turn on the heating or air-conditioning according to a pre-set schedule.  As a result, you don't operate the equipment as much when you are asleep or when the house is not occupied.  Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program. When shopping for a programmable thermostat, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR® label.

 

Door Sweeps
Many of the same manufacturers that offer weatherstripping products also make door sweeps to accommodate various sizes of doors. They are most effective when installed at the same time as weatherstripping, as they require many of the same measurements.

 

Sealing Cracks
 Perhaps the most quick and simple way to guard your interior against chilly breezes and pests is with a commercial sealant. They come in many varieties, including expandable foam, silicone caulking, and oil or resin, among others. Each type of sealant will have a different use, although it is recommended that you avoid sealing gaps larger than one inch. For best results, the area being sealed should be clean, dry, and free of any previous sealant, and the product should be applied in one continuous line, as compared to multiple, short applications. Because some types of caulking can shrink over time, avoid being skimpy on your application.

 

Hot Water Heater Wrap
 The majority of homes still use a single electric or gas hot water heater for all of their hot water needs, and covering these appliances with an insulator can prevent heat from escaping during the winter months. Covers, or "blankets," can be purchased at most home improvement stores for between $35 and $70, and are easy to install without professional help.

 

Clean Gutters
 Leftover leaves and debris can cause gutters to clog, causing headaches for homeowners when the temps reach freezing. To be sure that your gutters aren't warped or broken from ice building up and expanding over the winter, do one final clean before the snow flies.  Install metal leaf guards to any future clogging and prevent birds and rodents from gaining access into your soffits or attic area.

 

The Bottom Line
 It's a long list, but once you've tackled all the necessary winterizing tasks, you can sit back and stay warm all winter long. Spending some time and money well before the weather turns cold can provide a wonderful return on a much-needed investment!