Before Old Man Winter takes a frosty swing at your nose, make sure your green home is winter-proof. Just a few simple maintenance jobs can have your home sealed up snugly. Spending a couple of bucks on maintenance means you will save fistfuls of money on energy costs and make your home more eco-friendly. Here are nine quick fixes that won’t cost a fortune, but will save you one!
1. Caulking is king!!! The Earthworks Group claims that cracks in the average home can add up to a 9 square foot hole in the wall. Check your HVAC and plumbing pipe holes for gaps that can let the cold air in.
2. Your home will settle and move as it ages creating cracks. A good caulking should do the trick in most cases, but siding that is old and cracked will have to be replaced.
3. Weather stripping around your doors cracks with age. Replacing it costs only around $20 a shot, but can really help to seal the deal.
4. If your home predates the 1980s, then it was likely built directly onto the concrete foundation slab. Concrete surfaces are not completely level, so seal around the edges with caulk or spray foam.
5. Check your filters – your furnace has to work harder if air is prevented from moving freely by filthy filters.
6. Insulate your hot water pipes to reduce heat loss.
7. Bleed radiators in older buildings. Air bubbles can reduce their efficacy.
8. Replace old appliances with EnergyStar rated ones. You will recover your initial investment in a couple of years, and then go on to save a bunch of money. Fridges and freezers more than 15 years old are so inefficient that the Ontario Power Authority has a saveONenergy campaign that will pick up your old fridge and freezer and recycle them for FREE. They will also give you saveONenergy coupons which can be used to reduce the cost of new appliances. An EnergyStar fridge or freezer will save you up to $125 a year on electricity costs.
9. Decrease your home’s water temperature from 140˚F to 120˚F and save up to 10% on energy costs.
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