| Heating Costs: How to Save $$ |
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As winter approaches, home owners often consider adding insulation
to their homes. They might have had problems with ice dams last year,
know their basement is drafty or heard their neighbors are paying
significantly less to heat a house roughly the same size as their home.
Most home owners know that insulation slows heat transfer. What most home owners do not fully understand is that heating a home requires a balanced solution involving insulation and ventilation. Heating efficiency is also improved when common air leaks are addressed to reduce the amount of cold air enter the home.
Key Components of an Effective Heating Strategy
 SEALING houses to minimize cold air being drawn into the house (blue arrows in diagram)- Installing the appropriate amount of INSULATION to reduce the loss of warm air (red arrows in diagram)
- Providing adequate VENTILATION to enable warm
air that does escape into the attic from remaining there where it can
cause problems such as ice dams or the growth of mold / mildew due to
excessive moisture.
When evaluating which heating (or cooling where the reverse
situation exists) projects to tackle, home owners should consider how
quickly their investment will be paid back versus the up front cost to
make home improvements.
Ways to Reduce Heating Costs
Here are some of the most cost effective ways to save on heating costs this winter, and for years to come:
- Install programmable thermostats to automatically lower and raise the temperature of your house, reducing heating and cooling costs.
- Seal cooling and heating ducts with duct wrap or mastic sealant to save up to 25%.
- Insulate hot water heater and pipes carrying hot water, to save 4 to 9%
in water heating costs, and cut CO2 emissions. Check for heat loss (if
warm to the touch, it needs more insulation) and you may be able to save another 25 to 40%.
- Install ceiling fan(s) to reduce air conditioning costs by 40%
in the summer. In the winter, fans can circulate warm air that rises to
the ceiling, back down to the floor to save heating costs.
- Seal small, overlooked energy leaks around the house including:
- Add caulk or foam strips around windows/doors that leak. Learn about adhesives and caulking free of Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) emissions at Healthy Home Plans.com
- Install foam gaskets behind light switches and outlets if you hold a wet hand in front of the switch and feel air.
- Bring insulation up to "optimal" building standards.
Building standards are raised periodically. Some builders meet
standards that make housing affordable to buy, yet more expensive to
heat.
- Read My Handyman's article, Save Heating Costs with Insulation
- Replace old windows with energy efficient, dual pane windows. If this won't fit your budget, the window insulator kits or self-stick foam might be good temporary solutions.
- Replacement windows place in the Top 10 Remodeling Projects every year, returning more than 80% of their cost when you sell your home.
- Install shades, drapes or awnings to block light on hot, sunny days, and reduce cooling costs. In winter drapes can help retain warm air.
- Install reflective film on windows to reduce air
conditioning bills and eliminate upholstery fading by blocking UV rays.
Learn about the many options that exist for residential homes at Visions Window Tinting.
- Insulate hot water pipes to reduce heat loss, and to set water temperature at a lower setting.
- Hot water recirculation systems
can speed up delivery of hot water and reduce the amount of wasted
water that goes down the drain while you wait for the desired
temperature.
- Keep fireplace dampers closed whenever your fireplace is not in use.
There are thousands of pages of information related to
sealing, insulation and ventilation. Some of the best
information reviewed came from the following
web sites:
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Fireplace Remodeling
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 With today's focus on home heating costs, home owners are looking at fireplaces (or stoves) that provide heat along with a decorative focal point for that special room. There are many factors to consider when making a purchase:
- Location where fireplace will be placed as there may be limitations regarding fuel and/or ventilation.
- Size as important as too big a unit may not fit through existing doorways.
- Budget is a key factor. Prices reflect materials, type of fuel and time of year. A basic fireplace will cost between $1,000 and $2,000. A wood stove may cost around $1,000 but additional features like cooking space can add up quickly to $5,000 or more.
- Local building codes may add further restrictions.
When evaluating available choices, remember to include fireplace and fuel costs over a number of years. Spending a little more now for greater fuel efficiency might save you money in just a few years.
Some good resources to help you find the right fireplace for your home:
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Links that Make Life Easier
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Some related to home maintenance, repairs or remodeling ... and sometimes they're just fun things we've seen that are worth sharing:
Thanksgiving: History and Fun Facts
Did you know the largest pumpkin pie weighed 2,020 pounds? Learn about our Thanksgiving's traditions and history from the pilgrims to the Macy's Thanksgiving parade.
How to Calculate a Home's Heating Loss
No matter what kind of windows you buy or what kind of insulation you
put in between your walls, you house will lose some heat if it's colder
outside.
Heating Systems: Deciding Whether to Replace Your Existing System
Heating
is the largest energy expense in most homes, accounting for 35-50% of
annual energy bills in colder parts of the country. |
Promotions to Say Thanks
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At this time of year, we want to say thanks for your business. We are also thankful to our peer business owners who help us provide services. To show our appreciation, we'd like to share with you the following promotions:
- Nicole Durant, owner of Exeter Paint and Exeter Paint West (Epping) offers you the following specials on Benjamin Moore (BM) Paint through February 28th, 2009; cannot be combined with other offers:
- BM Ceiling Paint ... $9.99/gallon
- $8 OFF each gallon (suggested retail) of Benjamin Moore Regal paint
- $8 OFF each gallon (suggested retail) of Super Spec Interior paint
- Carol & Brett Burgard, owners of B&C Flooring in Portsmouth, are offering the following savings through February 28th, 2009; cannot be combined with other offers:
- $50 OFF when you purchase materials for $500 or more
- $100 OFF when you purchase materials for $1,000 or more
- Your choice of 1 complimentary floor cleaner when purchasing $250 or more
 Tina Gleisner, owner of My Handyman would like to help you winterize your home and offers the following savings:- For every hour we help you winterize your home, we'll give you two (2) compact fluorescent bulbs to save you money; good through February 28th, 2009.
- Stocking stuffers to save you money, and keep our technicians busy this winter (must be used by March 2009; cannot be combined with other offers; cannot be applied to painting jobs with special pricing for full day, interior painting):
- $75 OFF any half day (4 hrs) job
- $150 OFF any full day (8 hrs) job
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