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INSULATION Every year $13 billion worth of energy in the form of heated or cooled air escapes through holes and cracks in our homes—that’s an average of $150 per house--hold. Follow the tips below to weatherproof your home. Make sure your windows and doors are airtight. Check on a windy day by moving a lighted candle around the frames—if the flame dances around, you need weatherstripping or caulking. Consider storm windows—they reduce heating costs by 15 percent. Double-glazed and thermopane windows can minimize heat escape, as can covering your windows with clear plastic sheeting found in most hardware stores. Insulate your attic. You need a minimum R-value—the resisitance to heat flow— of 26, or more than three inches of old insulation. Proper insulation can save 20 to 35 percent on heating costs. Caulk windows you don’t open, use weatherstripping for windows you do, replace broken windows and re-putty loose panes. Plug the hole in the wall behind the thermostat with a piece of fiberglass insulation. In the attic, weatherstrip the access door, caulk or foam where electrical wires enter ceiling fixtures, and seal around the chimney with a high temperature sealant. Caulk around all the spots where electrical, telephone, cable, and gas lines enter the house. Also caulk the dryer vent and outside water faucets. Insulate your water heater if it emits any warmth at all. (Place your hand on the outside above the middle of the tank to check.) You can save about $22 a year in heating costs by simply using a water heater blanket. Put a draft guard at the foot of your door to keep air from escaping your house or apartment. You can use a closed tube of cloth containing sand. Cover the outside of your air conditioner with an AC cover made of plastic and use an additional cover inside to stop chilly drafts. Cover vents and exhaust fans when not in use to keep cold air from getting in. |