First, one of the easiest ways to dramatically reduce your home heating costs is by sealing your windows. There are many different kinds of window kits available that will completely seal off any gaps or drafts. Summertime is a great time to purchase these kits since they will typically be marked down by 50% or more. This means instead of spending $5 or more per window, you can do it for about $2.50 a window. If you’ve got a lot of windows in your home, this can really add up.

Summer is also a good time to start thinking about your insulation and the shape it may be in. If your home is fairly new, you should not have to worry about this. However, if you have noticed that no matter what you do your house still feels pretty cold, poor insulation may be the culprit. Look at the R rating on your current insulation and double check to make sure that it is meant for your area. If it is, it may have degraded, or you may need a little more to make your house feel cozy.

If you have a forced air heating system, it’s time to get those filters out and replaced. Having a clean filter in your furnace can reduce your heating costs significantly. Once again, you can take advantage of summer discounts and stock up on filters for the entire year. You should be replacing them at least every month, or more if you live in a particularly dusty area.

For those with wood or pellet stoves stocking up on fuel now can make a big difference in how much you spend. If you’re trying to scramble to find pellets or wood during the peak periods, you’re definitely going to be paying more money. If you’ve got the space, start stocking up now. If you have a propane furnace, you can do almost the same thing.

Many gas companies are now offering propane contracts for the winter. What this means is that you agree to purchase a set amount of propane over the winter, usually around 1000 gallons, and they will offer you a lower price. You’ll also get the benefit of locking that price in, so that no matter how high it goes through the winter, you’ll still be paying that initial price. As gas prices continue to go up, this is a great way to save money.

Last but not least, start checking your pipes for leaks. If you live in an area that gets very cold, you may want to consider adding pipe insulation to avoid having to deal with frozen pipes in the future.

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Originally posted 2008-09-08 05:42:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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1 - Find a warm pair of socks.

Sounds silly, but feet that are cold will send that feeling all over the body. Making a point to wear socks or slippers around during the cold days. If you are still feeling cold, you can add layers and bundle up.

2 - Make use of the heat that is available.

There are activities that you can do which generate warmth around the house. Cooking a meal or taking a shower are simple ways to get heat. Keeping the door open while taking a shower will allow the steam to escape into the rest of the house, putting some of that excess heat to better use. Just be sure not to turn on the ventilation fan, as it will remove the precious heat you are creating.

3 - Trim the thermostat by two or three degrees.

You will not really notice the change until you get your bill, when you notice that you have shaved up to ten percent off of your heating bill. If you will be leaving the home for several hours, it can also save you money to turn the thermostat down.

4 - Turn down the water heater.

This is another adjustment that can be hard to notice. Turning down the water heater will save as much energy as the thermostat adjustment.

5 - Upgrade the thermostat.

Buy a programmable thermostat, typically costing no more than $100. That money will be made back when the thermostat will only heat the home while you are home, setting the temperature lower for when you are at work or sleeping.

6 - Keep the heat that you have.

Make sure that doors and windows are shut. Leaving them open will let heat out and make the system work much more harder than it has to. If you have a fireplace, make sure to keep the flue closed and that glass doors covering the fireplace are closed. Also make sure that ventilation systems are turned off when they are not needed.

7 - Get a home physical.

Just as you go in for a check up every year, you should call a professional to come in and make sure proper maintenance is performed on your systems. This will ensure that your systems are running efficiently and in a most cost effective manner. You should also make sure that all filters are clean.

8 - Cover your windows when it is dark.

With out the sun working to heat the home from the outside, uncovered windows will let heat out of the home. Conversely, have windows open during the day to let heat into the home.

9. Examine your home from the outside.

Check your heating unit, making sure that anything that is up against it is removed and prevented from blocking air flow. Use a hose to clear off dirt and debris from the unit. If there is excess water, there may be a condensate drainage problem.

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Originally posted 2009-01-30 05:58:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Dust Bunnies –

With a name this cute, they can’t be harmful, can they? Think again. Not only are dust bunnies a fire hazard, but they can also harbor thousands of dust mites. If you are not familiar with dust mites, these are tiny little mites that live in dust, mattresses, and in many different items of your home. A few may not cause problems, but most homes will have at least tens of thousands of these creatures.

In some homes, the number may even be over a million. What does that mean for you? It means respiratory problems, issues with asthma and generally finding it hard to breath. Even if you keep a spotless house everywhere else, if you’re not getting rid of dust bunnies, your efforts to keep the air clean will be in vain. Make it a point to search for dust bunnies at least once a month and get rid of them whenever you find them.

Cobwebs –

These occur in most homes, and while you may be able to spot the ones that are right in front of you, those with higher ceilings may be missing some. They can occur in cold air returns, corners, under beds, stairways, or anywhere else where there are spiders and room enough to make a web. While they don’t look very nice, there is actually a hidden danger to cobwebs.

These little webs are actually incredibly flammable. You might be surprised by the amount of homes, barns and other buildings that have gone up in flames after a spark found a cobweb. It pays to get rid of these nasty little webs whenever you spot one.

The Air You Breathe –

This is all around you, but if you’re not testing it, you can’t know whether or not it is safe. Homes can have radon gas, propane, carbon monoxide and many other harmful particles, gases and irritants floating around. If you don’t yet have detectors in place for these, you need to.

Early detection of these gases and irritants may save your life. Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous and incredibly common. If you get only one detector, this is the best one to have. While not all homes may have radon present, the chance for carbon monoxide is much higher, especially in homes with gas appliances and furnaces. Take the time to inspect not only your home, but the air that is in it, to ensure the safety of everyone that lives there.

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Originally posted 2008-10-30 05:28:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Many people make the simple mistake of lowering the thermostat by too much in the evening. If the thermostat change is greater than ten degrees, it could incur a greater cost than expected. When the morning comes, the furnace will have to work even harder to make up for that 10 degree drop. Also of note, if the temperature outside is going to be around 0 degrees or colder, then you should not even bother lowering the thermostat on that night, as it will prove unnecessary and cause inefficiency.

Check the position of your thermostat in the room, even if it has been in that position for awhile. The installer may actually have made a mistake, and there is a chance that the thermostat has not even been installed in the proper location. There is also a chance that something has been changed or added later on that is allowing for a false reading to be given. You should be checking your thermostat in order to make sure that you are not getting a draft from somewhere else. You should also make sure that nothing hot is present around the location of your thermostat, such as a radio or a television for example, as these items are more than capable of forcing false readings out of your thermostat.

If you do realize that your thermostat is in need of being replaced, or if you realize that you need to change the location of your thermostat, then this can be done quite easily. If you need to relocate your thermostat, then you should make sure that you are checking the specifications by the owner for each unit. All you are going to have to do is run some brand new wiring to the chosen location. This is going to take a little bit of time and some decent labor, but it can definitely be done. If you are replacing an older thermostat, the process is much simpler. There are typically two pieces to a thermostat, the base and the body.

The head or body is the unit that you actually see on the wall, containing the controls. The base is the piece that is screwed into your wall. Make sure that you turn the power off to your thermostat before you remove it, and follow all manufacturer instructions when installing the new one. If you don't follow the manufacturer instructions, there is a good chance that you will end up causing damage to your home, your thermostat or yourself, which means that being careful is definitely necessary.

Photo Credits: Roadsidepictures

Originally posted 2009-08-25 03:29:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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1) Surface Drainage -

This problem is the most frequently cited problem that homeowners face. It is the back up or slower than standard drainage of surface water, and it is responsible for the number one household malady - water in the basement.

2) Electrical Wiring -

This common problem is the result of insufficient overload protection, insufficient electrical supply and home wired connections, which are potentially dangerous to occupants.

3) Roof -

This ailment is the result of degraded or damaged shingles, which causes roof leakage. Flashing that was improperly installed can also be a problem.

4) Heating -

This category includes such items as a defective, non functioning thermostat, chimney blockage, and an unsafe venting of exhaust away from the home.

5) Overall Maintenance -

This is where various areas of easy to repair items accumulate, such as makeshift fixes for wiring or plumbing, broken fixtures, cracked and peeling painted surfaces, and degraded masonry.

6) Structural Issues -

This category covers damage sustained by load bearing, structural components, such as the foundation, floor joists, rafters, support beams, headers around doors and windows, and much more.

7) Plumbing -

Plumbing problems rank high when it comes to issues of the home. This includes the presence of old and outdated materials, defective or damaged fixtures, problems with the septic system or sewer lines, and so forth.

Exterior-

Problems with the exterior of the home, such as for doors, windows and outer surfaces, allow atmospheric heat and humidity penetration, although they do not have much of an impact on the overall structure. Caulking and weather striping are the usual suspects when it comes to issues of the exterior.

9) Ventilation-

It is frequently the case that individuals will over seal their home in an effort to have a more efficient air system. This results in the excessive build up of moisture, however, leading to rotting of structural elements.

10) Miscellaneous-

This catchall category covers cosmetic issues that were not cited enough to gain its own category.

The results of the survey are dependent upon the age of the home and the area it is located in. Homes in the desert do not have as strict regulations on rain protection than in Chicago for example. For the homeowner, it is important to go through the home and review various sections of the home in relation to these categories. They should avoid any self repairs if their skill level is not considered to be up to standards, especially when it comes to wiring and plumbing. Fix what you can before the inspection, and you may avoid having to do the same procedure twice.

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Originally posted 2009-01-21 05:56:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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