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Now that all the leaves are off the trees and the temperature is falling to the negative side of zero it is time to weather proof the house. Below are some simple things anyone can do to better prepare for the coming cold. This will make your home easier to heat and even save some money along the way. 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 that is lost from your home? There are several ways you can better prepare your home for the winter ahead. Some will cost next to nothing like changing your furnace filter while other will cost a bundle, like changing your furnace all together. You simply have to weight the cost with the benefits. Even the cost of a filter will be paid back with the energy savings and lower gas bill. Here are 5 simple ways anyone with some wood working tools can easily make their home more efficient. 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. First it stops air infiltration. This is the biggest source of heat loss. The cracks around the glass and the frame, as small as they are, do allow cold air to penetrate inside. This plastic stops that. 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. Your heating system makes up about 50% of your energy bill in the winter so it makes sense to make sure your furnace is in good working order. Of course start with a new filter but it is also worth bringing in the pro's to do a tune up before winter. A new drive belt can prevent a break down. It is also important to check the flue and the burner to be sure there is no corrosion or build up. A professional heating contractor will also spot any problems that could lead to the build up of deadly carbon monoxide gas. It is worth the $75 to have your furnace tuned up. 3. When the wind blows real hard can you hear it whistling through the weather stripping around your door? (I can on mine) It is time to put a new weather stripping around the door. With a few wood tools like a saw and screw driver the process goes quick. This is a huge source of heat loss. Almost equivalent to having a window open. It is easy to replace the weather stripping so why not do it? 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.
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