While we’ve had record-high temperatures in the last couple of years, it doesn’t mean that Winters are going to get any easier in the Northeast. An inefficiently-designed home can lead to your energy costs being unnecessarily high and your living room being unpleasantly warm, so if you have the time, making some minor adjustments to your home will save you a great deal of money and hassle over the long run.
Here are the top home improvement tips you should consider for the Winter:
Get an energy audit
The best way to get your home operating at maximum efficiency is to hire a BPI-certified energy rater, who will evaluate your spaces and test your home for energy losses and safety issues. The rater will then generate a detailed report, which will help you to target and prioritize exactly what you need to do to save money. If you can’t afford an energy rater, buying and using an infrared thermometer will allow you to measure surface temperatures to identify air leaks or missing insulation.
Seal your walls
If you work in green construction, you’ve probably heard the phrase “seal it tight, ventilate right” on several occasions. By plugging up the places in your home where air penetrates through the wall with caulk, you’ll prevent cold air from seeping into your house. Using your infrared thermometer will help a great deal here.
Seal your home’s can lights
Many old can lights are intentionally vented to keep from being overheated by the lightbulb, but the main drawback to this design is that the vents will allow cold air to enter a home with a fair degree of ease. An unsealed can light below a roof is an especially large problem, given that warm air rises. By removing the existing ring of this can and sealing the can’s perimeter with caulk, you’ll keep your home’s warm air where it belongs- at home!
Look for insulation caps
If you have an item penetrating your wall, be it an outside faucet, an air vent, or plumbing, there will almost certainly be an air leak. Seal any penetrations you can find with expanding foam so that every nook and cranny is filled, but avoid sealing next to a gas flue for fire safety purposes. If you’re up for getting dirty, checking out the crawlspace of your home and filling forgotten cracks where the foundation meets the house will reduce the amount of cold air seeping into your home. Be sure to wear gloves when using expanding foam, though- it can be quite sticky before it sets!
Tune up your heating system
Did you know that 30% of an average home’s energy costs are related to heating, and this number can spike further if you have inefficiencies with your furnace or boiler system? By replacing the filter at the beginning of the season and every couple of months while you run the furnace, you’ll make your heating system much more efficient. Be sure to purchase the most efficient, healthy pleated filter you can find for improved air quality.
Source: Inhabitat