News from Historic Restorations

15 Steps to Weatherize Your Home

The November/December 2009 issue of Preservation Magazine featured an article, Getting Ready for Winter: 15 Steps to Efficiency. These tips are taken from this article.

Insulate the attic (this is where the majority of your heat loss will occur - though the replacement window and door companies would have you believe it is on the walls of the house - heat rises)

Zoned heating system (heat only the areas of the house you "live" in).

Bleed radiators and clean forced-air vents.

Have your furnace serviced.

Change your furnace filters once a month.

Install a programmable thermostat (turn the heat down at night when you are in bed and during the day while you are away).

Insulate ductwork, hot water pipes in cool spaces, and behind electrical receptacles and light switches (they sale the inserts (with precut holes) for behind the covers in any hardware store).

Close fireplace dampers (when the fireplace is not in use - we have had a call from someone not sure why their house was filling with smoke).

Set ceiling fans to low and switch direction so the hot air is being forced downward from the ceiling.

Make sure bathroom fans have functioning dampers.

Keep your original windows maintained (caulk, fix glazing, replace broken panes, repair wooden parts, and install weather stripping).

Install storm windows.

Use lined curtains, working shutters, and insulated window shades.

Caulk holes at exterior penetrations (mail chutes, etc.) only use exterior-grade caulking for this job.