From Guest Blogger Blake Meredith: Five More Eco-Savvy Tips for Prepping your Place for Winter
If you’re concerned about protecting your home against the ravages of winter, as well as skyrocketing energy costs, you should begin to safeguard your property now, while the weather is still warm. As a companion to our recent article on winterizing your home, here are five additional ways to save money and stay warm, applicable to both those who own and rent their homes.
5) Ceiling fans – The ceiling fan that you installed to help cool your home during the summer can save you up to 10% off your heating bills. During winter, switch your fan to run in the reverse, or clockwise direction. This causes warm air trapped near the ceiling to be distributed evenly throughout the room allowing you to lower the thermostat. Remote controlled fans will have a reverse button on the control keypad. For pull chain models, first stop the fan and then look for the reverse switch on the base of the fan motor.
4) Caulk – Caulk holes and cracks to protect your home from winter’s wrath. First, determine if you have any energy leaks. To do so, begin inside your home on a cool windy day. Close all doors and windows. A lighted incense stick is useful in performing this test. Pass the incense stick along all windows and doors at all points of contact with the window or door frame. If the smoke from the incense stick does not rise vertically, a leak exists. Electrical outlets, cable tv and phone line ports, attic hatches and plumbing vents can all be sources of leaks and should be checked. After leaks are identified they can be sealed on the outside of the house using silicone caulk. Latex caulk works well for sealing interior leaks and cracks, and it can be painted over. Ask an expert at your local home store if you are uncertain of which caulk to purchase.
3) Gutters – Gutters and downspouts shunt water away from your home to help prevent damage to fascia boards, paint foundations, and even basements. Make certain that your gutters are securely fastened to your house. Gutters that easily carried away summer rains may buckle and separate from the house when under a heavy load of snow. Older gutters were probably installed with spikes which may loosen over time and require replacement. Replace any suspect spikes with sturdy gutter screws. And don’t forget to clean gutters and downspouts. Wet leaves that freeze in gutters will clog downspouts resulting in gutter damage and may cause water from melting snow to accumulate on your roof and leak into your home. If you are uncomfortable working on a ladder, leave this task to the professionals like Brinkmann Quality Roofing. Most gutter contractors will clean your gutters for a nominal price.
2.) Heating Tune-Up – The first thing to do, of course, is change the furnace filter. Not only will it help to save you money, but they increase the efficiency and life expectancy of your furnace. If you use disposable filters, you should change them every 30 – 60 days during the heating season. And after you’ve taken the time to caulk holes and improve the insulation in your home, you’ll find that you can heat the place using significantly less energy. You may consider driving costs down further (and reducing your carbon footprint) by looking into alternative energy. Researching price quotes is never a bad idea. If you live in the United States, you may consult the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s data, and if you live in Canada, Direct Energy in Edmonton offers comparative rate analysis.
1.) Check your pipes – Frozen pipes cause millions of dollars in property damage every year. All water lines in basements and crawl spaces should be inspected yearly to make certain that they are adequately insulated. Wrap all pipes in exposed areas with electrical heating tape and then wrap with insulation. And don’t forget outdoor faucets, or hose-bibs. Remove, drain and store any connected hoses, then turn off the water supply from inside the house and open the valve to drain.
