DIY Tips For Winterizing Your Home….

As temperatures begin to take a dip across the country, people are preparing themselves and their personal property for the forthcoming winter season. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical American family spends about $2,000 per year on their home energy bills. However, about 20% of the air you use to heat your house during the winter is lost through leaks and incomplete sealing on windows and doors. A home energy audit, performed on your own or by a professional, will allow you to pinpoint how much energy your home uses, where your home is losing energy and what actions can be taken to make your home more energy efficient. If opting for a DIY audit, you should begin by checking your home’s exterior enclosure. Identify drafts by using smoke tests near doors, windows, electric outlets, attic hatches, range hoods and plumbing and ceiling fixtures. This can be accomplished through the use of a candle or incense stick. Wherever the smoke wavers, or is sucked out of or blown into the room, there’s a draft and proper measures should be taken to reduce air loss. Next, inspect exposed ducts for dirt, small holes, disjointed pipes and improper insulation. As reported by the Department of Energy, since ducts are typically made out of thin metal that easily conducts heat, uninsulated or poorly insulated ducts in unconditioned spaces can lose 10% to 30% of the the energy used to heat your home. Also, be sure to check insulation R-value or thickness where it is exposed. Pay particular attention to areas around ducts, water heaters, appliances, attics and unfinished basements. Use a ruler to measure and compare your results against those suggested for your region via an insulation calculator. Finally, be mindful of stains on insulation which can be indicative of air leaks from a hole behind the insulation, such as a duct hole or crack in an exterior wall.

You’ve done the legwork. Now what?

Odds are that your home energy audit has exposed the culprits behind those baffling utility bills. While some projects are best left for professionals, there are many that most homeowners can accomplish on their own. Below you will find some simple solutions to winter’s biggest offenders.

Air Leaks:

• Caulk both sides of the trim around your windows, fireplace, baseboard or dryer vents using a silicone or acrylic sealant. Both adhere well and will remain flexible for years.
• Install foam insulators behind the face plates of light switches and electrical outlets.
• Replace the caulking around any bathtubs or showers.
• Seal any cracks in the foundation of your house. For larger cracks up to 1/2″, you can use expanding foam (in a spray can) that creates a permanent airtight seal.
• Add a draft dodger under each exterior door.
• Replace the weather stripping around your doors.
• Install storm doors and windows.

Roof Repair:

• Replace worn or missing shingles on roof to avoid roof leaks.

Insulation:

• Add more insulation to your attic and crawl spaces.
• Create a false ceiling in unfinished basements and insulate between that ceiling and the living room.

Duct Work:

• Insulate duct work. This helps keep the heated air warm as it moves through unheated spaces under the house or in the attic.
• Use pre-slit foam to insulate pipes. Wrap spigots with styrofoam or other insulating, weather-resistant material.
• Repair any holes or tears in duct work with a ready-to-use metal repair and patching compound.