Winterizing Your Home

You don’t have to “Go-Green” to save green on your heating bill this winter. Winterizing your home can be easier than it sounds.

Energy Conservation experts shared 5 easy and cost effective ways to help you stay warm and reduce your energy consumption during frigid New England months.

1. Run your ceiling fan in reverse (clockwise).

On the majority of ceiling fans you will find a forward and reverse switch. Make sure that your fan is spinning clockwise, instead of counterclockwise. Heat rises and is pooled at the top of the ceiling so while the fan spins in this direction it will actually take warm air at the top and push it down making your room a lot warmer. Running your fan in the winter can end up saving you 10% on your heating costs.

2. Properly seal doors and windows.

Cold air leaking through the cracks of incorrectly sealed doors and windows could cost you up to $350 this winter. If your home has an attic, that may be a good place to start. Foam sealant sprays can be your best bet for attic fixes and can found at most hardware stores. Another area of your home where you may find major gaps could be around your homes entry doors. Weather stripping is an easy and cheap way to seal up your door while making a noticeable difference. Applying caulk around the windows will also give an added advantage to keeping any extra cold air from trying to seep in.

Average Cost: Foam Sealant Spray $6.00 - $10.00, Weather Stripping $3.00 - $12.00, Caulk $2.00 - $6.00              

3. Wrap plastic around your windows.

For this tip you are essentially shirk wrapping your windows. The added plastic layer around your window’s trim will give a second layer of protection for those cold windy nights. Window insulation film usually comes in a kit that you can find at a local hardware store. The plastic is to be applied on the inside of your window frame with double stick tape then blow dried to shirk the wrap around your window.

Average Cost: Window Insulation Kit $5.00 - $12.00         

4. Put insulation around water pipes in the lower level of your home.

Much like how we bundle up with a heavy jacket during the winter months, we want to use the same idea when covering water pipes. Insulating your water pipes will keep valuable heat from escaping while raising your overall water temperature by about 3 degrees Fahrenheit. By putting this insulation your water will also heat up a lot faster than before being insulated. This is also a project that takes little time and is not very complex to do with a smaller home. The annual savings that can come from insulating your pipes can be around $8 - $12 annually.   

Average Cost: Foam Water Pipe Insulation $2.00 - $5.00/each               

5. Clean Your Gutters