Winter Weather Home Prevention - Tip 3 (2008)

The Cold weather season is approaching Fast! While watching the leaves turn deep shades and hues, tailgating on Football Fridays and planning for upcoming holidays with family and friends are top on our minds, it is vital not to forget important winter home maintenance. Here is your newest tip to help get you thru the cold weather season and hopefully help put some cash back in your pockets: TIP #3 Checking your homes insulating system is one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to use a whole house approach to reduce energy waste and maximize your energy dollars. You can increase the comfort of your home while reducing your heating and cooling needs by up to 30% by investing just a few hundred dollars in proper insulation and weatherization products. Check your home for air tightness. Here are a few tips: · Locate a leak – caulk, seal or weather-strip. Check doors and windows that leak air too. · Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings and soffits over cabinets. · Install rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls. · Look for dirty spots in your insulation, which often indicate holes where air leaks into and out of our home. · Install storm windows over single pane windows · When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed.