Save Money by Sealing Up Your House

Unfortunately, it's that time of year again -- winter is looming. So that means I'll be writing about how to save on heating costs again. This season then leads right into tax season where I'll spend four months ranting about how bad our system is, how confusing it is, yada, yada, yada. So, yeah, my life will stink for six months or so. ;-)

But I digress.

This post is about ONE, though and important one, idea for how to save on heating costs this winter. The idea? Seal up your home.

Here's what Smart Money says about the tip:

A little draft here (say, a crack in the window frame), a little leak there (extra space around wires snaking in from the attic). You may not notice them, but cumulatively, those small air leaks are padding your home-heating bill. "If you add up all the hidden air leaks, it's like leaving a window open all year long," says Maria Vargas, spokeswoman for the Energy Star program. Seal 'em up with caulk, spray foam or weather-stripping from your local hardware store.

So, would any of you leave a window wide open in the winter (or the summer for that matter)? Of course not -- it would cost a fortune! That illustration really brings the issue to life -- it shows how much energy (and money) we may be losing one little leak at a time.

It's a simple tip, but one I need to take to heart. I know of 3-4 areas (doors, windows, and vents) where I'm sure we're losing heat and/or letting cold air in. Besides that, I think we need another layer of insulation in our attic. I hope to get these taken care of in the next month or two -- especially since up here in Michigan, winters can be pretty brutal.

Comments

[RSN]

Ugh... This one is a killer for me. I have an extremely drafty 100+ year old home. Everytime the heat or air comes on I get visions of dollar bills just flying out the windows. We try to seal it up, but unless we could put the money into it for real renovations the dollars will continue to blow through all the cracks and crevices.

Other than that - this is a great tip!

[Blaine Moore (First Time Homeowner)]

I am in the process of adding insulation to my attic right now. I have been noticing since it has gotten colder a few places where there are leaks, and I hope to plug those before I leave for New York to run the marathon in a week. I probably won't get it done until I get back though. Because I do not get cold and my wife does not mind wearing sweatshirts, though, we wait to turn the heat on until the last possible moment. Even in the evenings when we are home we'll ask one another before turning the heat up to where we would like it, and then turn it back off as soon as it gets there so it cools off by the time we're sleeping.