Seal up your home, save money on heating at Catch a Gideon

November 3rd, 2006 by digerati

Winter is coming, Today it feels like it’s here. It dropped from 75 degrees a few days ago to 40 degrees when I woke up this morning. Brrr! Being from Milwaukee doesn’t do nearly as much as you’d think.

When it gets cold you turn on the heat. And then you let the heat out all the little cracks and openings in your walls. From Smart Money:

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.

OK, so not all air leaks are as obvious as a chilly breeze or a rattling windowpane. (Some, like poorly joined heating ducts, can be downright impossible to spot.) Click here for an Energy Star guide on seeking leaks near the major culprits.

Other ideas to save money on heating:

Get (and use) a programmable thermostat. Turn the heat off when you’re at work, or at least way down. Figure out how late you can have it come back on to be comfortable when you get back. Also lower the temperature at night, not only will you save money, but you’ll sleep better.
Block off unused rooms
Turn on the fan. Surprisingly in the winter the fan helps too! Put it on reverse and it will keep the hot air moving and away from the ceiling.
Insulate around electrical outlets and lightswitches
Insulate between walls (this could help in a condo too since you’re not heating the apartment next door)