Making the Home More Cost-effective and Energy-efficient This Winter

Manhattan, KS - infoZine - Finding a balance between being comfortable and conserving energy is key, he said. Some main areas of concentration for winterizing the home include checking the furnace, insulation, and the windows, doors and outlets for leaks to the outdoors. But, having a working programmable thermostat might be the first item on the agenda.

The thermostat setting determines how much you will spend for heating and cooling costs, Snead said. He recommends that people consider setting it down when they dont need it, perhaps when they are sleeping or gone during the day.

Each house is unique, but generally every degree you drop on your thermostat might save as much as 3 percent on your heating and cooling costs, he said.

Furnace checks

The more you use the furnace, the more important it is to check it, certainly at least every three months if not more often, just to make sure that the filters are clean, he said. If you have not had your furnace serviced in two or three years, it would be worth having a service technician do a standard evaluation to make sure everything is still lubricated, operating properly, venting properly and you are getting the most out of the fuel that is being consumed by the furnace to provide comfort in your home.

If people have any combustion appliances, like a furnace, in their home, Snead said they should have a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless and colorless gas that can cause flu-like symptoms or even death.

Windows, doors and outlets Leaks to the exterior of the home are one of the largest drains on energy costs. Snead said it depends on how many windows the home has, the orientation of those windows, how old they are, how many layers of glass they have and how tight they are.

Even if you have leaky, old windows, you can always add an interior layer of plastica shrink-fit film, Snead said. Just choose the proper-sized kit for your window. It can be temporarily installed. Its a good way to maintain the clarity of view of the window, but air tightening by literally sealing the whole window at the surface of the trim.

Another option for people is using temporary caulks, Snead said. If the window is not going to be used at all this winter, the temporary caulks dont bond permanently to the surface but will seal around the window.

If the windows are loose-fitting or decaying because of mold, mildew or moisture, Snead said it is worth having them replaced.

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Making the Home More Cost-effective and Energy-efficient This Winter