10 simple tips to winterize your home

Thinking about winterizing your home right now is kind of like buying a sweater in August.

With the sun setting earlier and the onslaught of wintery winds not as far off on the horizon as some would like to think, now would be a good time to start making your home or apartment a fortress against Old Man Winter.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for about 56 percent of the energy use in a typical home, making it the largest energy expense for most people. Whether it's to ease utility bills or your conscience - think green! says everyone - there are a few things homeowners and renters can do to make their residences more comfortable. For renters, this could be especially handy. Though you may be responsible for paying utilities, you don't necessarily have control over the efficiency of the appliances, the construction of the home or any needed upgrades.

Here are 10 simple tips and a checklist of things you may want to consider before the winter takes hold.

1It's really easy, which is why it's No. 1. Check for leaky spots and seal them. Remember that draft from last year? Check around seams, windows and doorways for possible gaps. Take a caulk gun and some caulk - or whatever material you prefer - to seal off the cold spots. "You can put a lit candle around the edge of the windows, and if the flame flickers, there is probably a leak there," said Kim Danzeisen, energy conservation specialists with the Monroe County Opportunity Program. "Every bit of air leaking out is basically money slipping away."

Just be sure not to caulk or gum up something that you would like to continue to operate. For example, if you have sliding windows, don't caulk between the two sliding panes unless you don't want them to open again. There is temporary weather stripping, foam ropes, tape, etc. for that.

2 Caulk again. This time, look for openings on the exterior of the home. Pay particular attention to where different materials meet up. You can use pre-molded caulk, expanding foam for larger gaps or other materials readily available at the local hardware store. Also, consider getting weather stripping for areas around doors. The Department of Energy reports that if you shut a piece of paper in a door or window and can take it out without tearing it, you're losing air and money.

3 If you can't afford to replace older windows, or your rental manager isn't hip to installing new panes, there are still a few things to be done. If you have them, be sure to put in your storm windows. Installing plastic over the windows (using a kit) also is something simple to help increase the efficiency of the windows. Another option is installing winterizing plastic on the outside of windows. There are specific kits that provide instructions and supplies to do this. You can also make draft blockers, like those that sit at the foot of a door, to go along the windowsills.

4 Insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes to prevent heat loss. To see if you need an insulation blanket, place your hand on the tank. If it feels warm, then you need a blanket, says Michigan Gas Utilities. Also, the DOE recommends insulating the outside of heating ducts in unheated areas such as attics and crawl spaces and keep them in good repair to prevent heat loss of up to 60 percent at the registers. There are all kinds of products on the market - like hot water heater blankets that fit most models and pipe wraps - to help figure out what is best for you. Just be 6 It won't necessarily keep you warm, but making your home more efficient in general can save dollars. Consider changing to compact fluorescent bulbs. Ms. Danzeisen said that operating an average light bulb costs about $13.18 a year while a CFC costs about $4.52 a year. Think how many lightbulbs you have in your home. Another suggestion Ms. Danzeisen had was to plug most of your electronic equipment - the stuff that doesn't need to be constantly running - into a powerstrip that can be turned on and off. The Department of Energy reported that 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.

7 Think about getting different curtains if the current ones are a lighter fabric, don't cover the windows fully, etc. They can help keep things cozy. The Department of Energy recommends that during the heating season, keeping the draperies and shades on south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter the home and closed at night to reduce the chill from cold windows. To reduce heat exchange, draperies should be hung as close to windows as possible. Also let them fall onto a windowsill or floor. For maximum effectiveness, you should install a cornice at the top of a drapery or place the drapery against the ceiling.

8 Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors and crawl spaces to see if it is adequate for the climate. Different types of insulation are now a snap to install. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your attic. If your insulation is level with or below the joists, you probably need to add more insulation (but remember to seal the air leaks before you insulate).

9 If you don't already have one, get an alternate source of heating. There are so many options available, it can be overwhelming. Fireplaces without fire that require no venting, fuel cell stoves, electrical space heaters that are easy to roll from room to room - they're all viable options and range in price. Instead of having to heat all of the space in a home, which can be highly inefficient, you can use a smaller heater to warm up the air immediately around you or just use it as a supplement instead of jacking up the thermostat on those really cold nights. Just use these with caution.

10 Save the receipts. The IRS is offering a tax break of up to $500 for efforts aimed at making a home or apartment more energy efficient from Jan. 1, 2006, to Jan. 1, 2008. Improvements like insulation systems that reduce heat loss/gain, exterior windows (including skylights), exterior doors, and metal roofs (meeting applicable Energy Star requirements) are some of the improvements from a long list of things that are eligible.
www.monroenews.com
full article