Expert Advice on Home Improvement TV Host of Emmy®-Nominated Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather ChannelAttics and Basements, Heating and Cooling, Green Living, Insulation Published 01/08/2007 by Danny Lipford
With winter approaching, it is obvious that families across the country need to find ways to save on their energy bills. Danny has some proven ways to help you though saving this winter.
Your heat source is the biggest user of energy in your home during the winter. It only makes sense that your system should run as efficiently as possible. Having the heating system serviced and changing the filter regularly will ensure the system is operating as efficiently and inexpensively as possible.
For every degree that you lower the temperate in your home, you will save 2 - 3 % of your total heating bill. You can adjust the temperature manually or install a programmable thermostat to do this automatically.
A ceiling fan on low, running clockwise, will re-circulate the warmer air that rises to the upper areas of your rooms. Recycling this air will make your rooms more comfortable.
Your water heater works 24 hours a day to provide you with instant hot water when needed. Lowering this temperature will make your water heater work less, saving you money.
Hot water pipes that are not insulated will immediately start to lose BTU’s as soon as the water leaves your water heater. Insulating these lines with readily available “pipe wrap” will decrease the cost of heating your water.
Almost every attic needs more insulation. Plastic encapsulated insulation batts make installing additional insulation “itch free” and safer for the do-it-yourselfer. All homes need at least 12″ - 14″ of insulation.
Small cracks around windows, hose bibs and doors allow cold air to infiltrate the home causing a more expensive effort to keep temperatures comfortable within the home. Sealing these cracks with exterior caulk or foam will make it easier and cheaper to heat your home this winter.
If new, insulated windows are not in your budget, consider applying an inexpensive window insulation kit. This kit contains double stick tape and a thin plastic film that when installed on the interior of your window, creates an air cushion to block cold air.
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September 13th, 2007 at 6:33 am
Hello,
I am writing about what to do about the gap
between the foundation and the siding…I have sprayed for bugs as I have seen some in
the past fly up under the siding where the
mortar hold the block together. I would like to seal this up with perhaps foam rope 1/4″ or perhaps 1/2″ in some areas and then use
caulk to finalize the sealing to keep out bugs,snow,rain and of course cold drafts…
Would you recommend silicone caulking as I
would think clear would be best and as silcone would be more pliable and waterproof?
Please reply!
Thanks,
Steve
November 24th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Where can i find the window insulation kits? We have tried Lowes and Home Depot and they don’t know what we are talking about.
Thanks,
Gail
January 18th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I have cold air coming into my fireplace area because the exgaust vent does not fit
securely
What can I use to cover the whole?
January 20th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
The window film looks like a great idea, but I second Gail’s request for help on finding it. Went to Home Depot today and the two people in the department with the regular window film (that just covers the glass) had never heard of it.
Thanks!
February 12th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
The window film does work. I purchased mine at Home Depot, but I purchased it in the fall. They may not be stocking it now, as with most stores they also rush into the next season and probably stock patio sets and lawn items.I have also seen the kits at ACO hardware. The time to buy would be October.
February 16th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I live in a new condo building with sliding balcony doors. However, this winter i feel a draft coming thru. I want to be able to open the doors in the winter/summer time. What can I do to lower the wind i feel coming thru the connections ?
May 28th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
hello, where can I purchase the window insulation kits and is there a brand name to lokk out for? Thank You
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Re Window insulating kits - do look for them in the fall and don’t buy the pre-cut ones. You can save oodles by buying the big roll and cutting it yourself. If you run out of tape, you can buy more. However, be warned that when you peel them off, the paint will probably come away too. I used to solve this by leaving the film on most windows all year (in Summer, it keeps the heat out), but in my green retrofit I’ll be using interior storms instead. They are made of plexiglass, adhere to the window frame via a magnetic strip and you reuse them every year. This way, I will get to keep the house’s original wood windows.