5 Tips for a Warmer and More Efficient Home

Now that winter is upon us it is time to start getting the house ready for the cold weather. The temperature is dropping and the leaves are off the trees. There is no time like this weekend to start draft proofing the house. There are some really easy ways to make you home more efficient and save some money in the process.

Did you know that simply changing your furnace filter and putting up plastic on the windows makes a huge difference in the amount of heat lost from your home?

There are a few ways that you can better prepare your house for the coming winter. Some will cost next to nothing while others are a bit more expensive. It is a matter of weighing the cost versus the benefit. For a renter it wouldn't make sense to change your furnace but the filter would be fine.

1. Put up the shrink plastic on the windows. I know I just said that but is really works good so... It is easy to use as well you just stick it around the window trim with 2-sided tape and then shrink it with a hair dryer. Don't over look the benefits of this plastic.It does two very important things.

Around each frame of glass is a very small airspace. This is enough to create drafts and air infiltration. By putting up the plastic it stops this completely. You will notice the difference right away.

It also creates a dead air space which acts like a layer of insulation. This air space is a buffer stopping the cold air against the glass from penetrating into the room.

2. Running your heating system alone accounts for almost half of your winter energy bill. For this reason alone it makes sense to have it in top running condition. This means having a clean filter first. You want to restrict the airflow as little as possible. It also makes sense to have the drive belt checked along with the flue and the burner.

3. The weather stripping around your door can alone destroy your homes energy efficiency. If the weather stripping is cracked and worn it can have the same effect as having a window open. So if you see any signs of wear or cracking of the weather stripping do yourself a bit favor and replace it. The process is simple enough and only requires a few basic hand tools.

4. This is one that most people don't know; but having a gasket on the back of each light switch and outlet cover can substantially cut down on drafts. It is not uncommon for insulation around and behind a switch box to be a bit "less" then normal. Improper installation or compressing of the batt insulation can become a conduit for drafts. Your local electrical supply store can provide you with gaskets the simply fit behind the covers of all your switches and outlets creating an airtight seal against the wall.

5. Attics are a trap for heat loss. Improper insulation or insufficient ventilation in the attic can cause dramatic heat loss. So bad in some cases that the snow will actually melt from the entire roof except from the eaves where there is no heating from below. Despite the obvious waste of energy this can also have some destructive structural effects on your roof.

Melting snow re-freezes on the eaves and creates ice dams which can cause water to back up and possibly get in under the shingles. If the insulation in your attic is less then R40 then you should consider having it brought up to a minimum of R40. This will prevent excessive heat loss and snow melt on the roof.

These 5 tips can make your home more efficient which will save energy but unless your home is drastically under standard it is unlikely that you will retire on the savings. The big advantage is the added comfort you will feel. There will be far less drafts and cold spot. This is the real noticeable benefit and the goal you should have in mind while trying to winterize your home.