With harsh winter weather on the horizon, now is the time to send your home’s energy hogs out the door and rid your home of these common winter culprits:
Dirty air filters. They make your heating system work harder to keep the air comfortable. Change the filter every month.
Leaky ducts. A contractor can test your ductwork for leaks and repair any problems.
Chilly water heater. If your water heater is in the garage, it’s spending some of its energy trying to keep itself warm instead of devoting all its energy to heating water. Pick up an insulating jacket at a hardware or home improvement store and wrap it up.
Wood fireplace. Traditional fireplaces suck heated air into the chimney and release it outdoors. Retire yours, close off the damper and add an electric fireplace insert, which doesn’t add much heat to a room but looks nice in the hearth.
Drafty doors and windows. Caulk and weatherstripping are easy to apply around windows and doors. And you’ll see a difference in your energy bill.
