The brutal cold and very snowy winter this year is too much for many to bear, especially in their wallets. It’s not too late to be thinking about this year’s home-heating saving tips.
Today, let me share the 3 overlooked causes of heat loss at home that make you pay more in your heating bills.
If you're a low income earner and use heating as a primary heating energy source in your house or apartment, you will struggle with the huge increases in costs that are heading your way.
Heating, like gasoline, are tied closely together in price and we all know what the price of gas has done over the years.
The absolute best way to help insulate yourself from financial ruin because of ridiculously high home heating bills this winter is to insulate your home instead.
Imagine leaving a window even slightly open all winter long. The heat loss, cold drafts, and wasted energy would drive everyone crazy.
If however you add up all the places where drafts and energy leaks occur in your home, it would probably be equal to leaving a window wide open all winter long.
The reason you don’t feel it so much is that instead of a big hole like an open window, you have many tiny leaks.
Often overlooked, there are 3 major potential areas where you should check for heated air loss.
1. Fireplaces
Fireplaces are a problem because these are a chimney or hole to the outside. Check and see if the damper is tight. Use glass window fireplace covers.
And if you decide not to use the fireplace, consider getting some 2 inch rigid foam insulation from the hardware store and making a plug to close off the fireplace even better.
To make a fireplace plug, measure the fireplace opening below the damper, cut a piece of foam insulation to fit and wedge it into place.
A good safety idea is to attach a short piece of rope to the plug to not only help remove it when you are ready to use the fireplace, but also as a safety device to make certain it’s remembered before the fireplace is used.
Make certain the short piece of rope or even ribbon is long enough to be seen easily. Mine touches the fireplace logs and acts as a reminder the plug is in place.
2. Air leaks from small holes and tiny cracks
Are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, and outside electrical outlets.
A good way to seal the electric plugs is to pick up some plug gaskets and install on all outside electric outlets.
These are simply a thin rubber about the shape of the outlet cover that fits over the plug and seals around the outlet and the cover.
3. Doors
Doors are a special problem because you can’t simply seal it up.
The doors need to open and close regularly and seal. Weatherstripping around the perimeter of the door is a good way to seal out the leaks around outside doors.
Another suggestion is to take fabric material, cut 2 pieces about 3 inches wide and make it 6 inches longer than your door opening.
So if the door is 46 inches, you want 2 pieces of fabric 3 inches by 42 inches.
Sew the fabric together along the long sides and one small side. This will give you a pocket similar to a pillow case.
Next turn the pocket inside out so the finished seams look good and fill with any small material. Any cooking beans, rice, popcorn, even sand is a good material.
You now have a bottom door seal that can be placed against the door sill at the bottom, keeping the cold air out, but can also be removed during the day.
This is also a great idea for rooms that have been closed off for the winter.
Have a guest room that isn’t being heated? Make another bottom door seal and save energy.
You can even purchase similar door seals from many stores because they’re so popular and every efficient.
While there’s nothing we can do about the high energy prices next winter, by being prepared, the bills can be dramatically lowered.
The real key in all these is to make sure you keep the leaks down in your entire house and to keep the warmth inside your home.
You might also enjoy the post that I shared here about safe driving in the snow that can help save your life and others on the road.
Thank you for reading the 3 overlooked causes of heat loss at home that make you pay more in your heating bills.
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Until next time. I hope this money-saving home tips can help keep you feeling warmed up this winter season! Take care, stay safe!
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