Colorado is famous for having a mix of snowfall and sometimes downright summery temps over the winter months, but we also experience plenty of cold days from October right on through to April or May.
Freezing Factoid: Did you know all the gaps, leaks, and holes found in your home could add up to the equivalent of leaving a window open 24/7/365? Of course you’d never do that, but leaving home heating loss unchecked has the same effect. #WhatAWaste
With heating costs on the rise, it’s important to pay attention to where you may be losing valuable heat. Minor changes can equal big savings and improved comfort in your home, and paying attention to heating loss is good for the environment, too.
5 Common Spots for Home Heating Loss
INSPECT EXTERIOR DOORS
Take a good look at your front door, back door, and any exterior entrances to your home — including the door into the garage. If you can see light around the frame, it’s leaking air. Replace worn seals with ones that have pliable sealing gaskets that fit snugly against the threshold, and add weather stripping and foam gaskets around door jambs. This is an affordable, easy DIY that will save you money.
WATCH THOSE WINDOWS
Try holding a lit jar candle near your windows on a windy day, or even standing near them to see if you feel air movement. If so – your windows are letting warmed air out and wasting energy. If you have older single-pane windows, you can insulate them by installing inexpensive low-E glass storm windows, which can reduce heat loss by up to 30%. An even more affordable solution is Plastic Film Insulator Kits, available for around $15 at big box stores or online. Insulated drapes can help with this problem; consider closing them on cold or windy days, opening them to let the sun in on clear days — both of which can help with heat retention.
ALL ABOUT ATTICS
Much like exterior doors, the door or access panel to your attic can contribute to significant home heat loss — particularly since heat rises. Install thick rigid foam insulation on the back of the door or access panel, as well as rubber weather stripping around the opening.
BRRR…BASEMENTS
Don’t forget about basement windows and architecture. The band of wood that rests on a basement’s foundation walls (rim joists) are often left uninsulated, and with cold seeping in at or below ground level, this is wasting energy and increasing your heating bill. Cut rigid foam insulation to fit against the joist, and fill any gaps wider than 1/4 inch with expanding foam. Finally, seal the edges with acrylic caulk. Don’t worry about perfection if you’re a novice DIY-er. Your guests are unlikely to see this space, and even a sloppy-looking effort to further insulate this spot will save energy.
SMALL ENERGY WASTE ADDS UP
For a couple of bucks you can add behind the outlet and switch plate covers on exterior walls. Examine entry points for utilities, filling in gaps around plumbing or wires with insulating foam and caulk.
BONUS TIP
Don’t forget to set your ceiling fan to rotate clockwise during the winter (a simple switch on the side of the base typically does this) to help warm air circulate more effectively. Turning your ceiling fan on low for a few minutes can help eliminate cold spots in the room and circulate warm air from your heater from floor to ceiling. The cost to run your fan is less than running the heater or AC, so using this trick will help you save money and increase your comfort level at the same time.
Are you thinking about Buying, Selling, or Investing in the competitive Denver housing market? I’m here to help! Drop a line to let me know how I can be of service.
Sincerely,
Jack Meyers
303.263.3050
meyers real estate group 