CSU EXTENSION for San Miguel and West Montrose counties
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Winterize now, Save Now:
Home heating costs expected to rise up to 61%!!

Article By: Jack Krebs, CSU Extension Agent
for Family and Consumer Science
Norwood Office for CSU Extension

Winterizing your home can provide substantial cost and energy saving benefits, particularly during a challenging economy. With energy costs continuing to increase, it makes sense to take a few moments to evaluate the simple measures that can make a big difference in both the comfort of your home and your pocketbook.

   -- By Adding insulation to other areas of your home: Insulation in the crawl space, under floors and in basement walls helps stop the transfer of heat through the home
 
   -- By Sealing windows and doors: Blocking cold air from entering a home can reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent

-- By installing relatively inexpensive plastic sheeting window insulator kits can not only act as a blocker to cold drafts but, actually serve as an attractor to the days warmth

-- A Quick fix, a door draft blocker, can be handmade of a stuffed long tube sock, or rolled towels

-- Plugging those dastardly drafts: Sealing, caulking and weather-striping around all seams on the exterior of the house is the first-line of defense against draft
-- Installing a programmable thermostat: Air temperature in the home can automatically be lowered and raised when residents are at work or home

-- Insulating 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. Also 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. It won't necessarily keep you any warmer, but making your home more efficient in general can save dollars.

-- Consider changing to compact fluorescent bulbs. Operating an average light bulb costs about $13.18 a year while a CFC costs about $4.52 a year. Think how many light bulbs you have in your home. Another suggestion, plug most of your electronic equipment - the stuff that doesn't need to be constantly running - into a power strip that can be turned on and off.

The Department of Energy reported that 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.

-- Think about getting different curtains if the current ones consist of lighter fabric, or 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.

--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 to Jan. 1. 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.

--But let's talk about saving money now without spending money. You can do that immediately by going over to your thermostat and turning it down. Turn it down as far as you can tolerate. If you normally have it set at 72 F and you turn it down to 65 F or even 63 F, you will save significant money.

--By wearing long underwear, sweaters and/or fleeces, and thick socks offset the cool temperatures inside your home. If necessary, wear a hooded sweatshirt indoors. You will be warm, cozy and saving lots of money.

--Consider operating a humidifier. Humidity in the air will make cool air feel warmer. But, too much humidity in the air can cause hidden problems such as condensation. If you see a slight fog on windows or drops of water forming, then the humidity is too high for the current outdoor temperature.

--Consider utilizing a fan to circulate the warm air currents throughout your home.

-- Block of those unused rooms . It sounds simple — but so practical, the less space you need to heat, the lower your bill. So winterize unused rooms in your home, say, the guest room or storage space. The how-to is simple. Turn off the heat supply to that room, and keep the door closed. Or close off the floor not in use. Place a towel or run across the bottom of the door frame to prevent your home's heated air from leaking in. You can always warm it up when holiday guests drop in, but in the meantime, your system won't need to work as hard to heat your home.

-- Finally – late fall is the perfect time to check all fire alarms replace batteries, and run an in home test for radon. These few minutes could save more than money – it could save your life, and the lives of your family.

Feel free to stop in to your friendly San Miguel/West Montrose Counties Extension Office in Norwood for fact sheets on other money saving tips, or pick up your own Radon Kit at no cost to you. Call 327-4393 for more information.

CSU Extension 4-H and FCS Agent
jack.krebs@colostate.edu

 

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No endorsement of products named is intended nor is criticism
implied of products not mentioned.