Convert to Gas
Nothing communicates home-loving coziness like a fire in the fireplace.
Unfortunately, traditional wood burning fireplaces tend to lose more
energy than they produce, pulling heated air out of the house and sending it up
the chimney (and burning wood adds to air pollution). If you have natural gas
or propane heating, consider having gas logs installed. A direct-vent system is
best for new, air-tight homes; it pulls in air from outdoors, pushes it past
the firebox, and sends the warmed air into the room. Vent-free systems require
no chimney, flue, or outside exhaust. They're relatively inexpensive to
operate, warm the room efficiently, and meet national standards for indoor air
quality
Call the Chimney Sweep
If gas logs aren't in your budget and you use your wood burning fireplace often
during the winter, have it cleaned and inspected before winter. Burning wood
releases volatile gases that cool and condense on the inside of the chimney,
forming sticky, smelly, highly flammable creosote. Allow enough of it to build
up, and you run a risk of a chimney fire. Also make sure the damper is working
properly and that the chimney is capped with screening to keep out critters.
Put the Ceiling Fan in Reverse
Check your ceiling fan for a switch that allows
you to reverse the direction of blade movement to turn clockwise instead of
counter-clockwise. Warm air rises, and the clockwise rotation of the blades
forces the warm air down to where people benefit from it.
Wash the Windows
Yes, it's a tedious job, but washing the windows inside and
out twice a year--spring and fall--rewards you with sparkling views,
unobstructed light, and the opportunity to check for cracks and damaged
caulking. Use a commercial window cleaner or make your own by mixing 1/4 cup of
white vinegar with 1 gallon of water. Newspaper makes the best "cleaning
rag" because it's absorbent and won't leave lint, but wear gloves to
protect your hands from the newsprint.
Make Windows Airtight
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 10 percent of
the air that leaks out of a house exits through the windows. Caulk around
window frames and apply weather stripping between the sash and window frame to
eliminate air leakage. Tension seal and magnetic types of weather stripping are
durable and effective for double-hung windows. For casement and sliding
windows, apply self-adhesive V-strip weatherstripping to the side of a clean,
dry sash or window jamb. Measure the length you need, cut the V-strip to fit,
then peel off the paper backing while pressing the strip in place.
Rearrange the Furniture
Changing the furniture arrangement is an easy way
to give your rooms a new look and feel for the winter. Pull seating pieces
close to the fireplace to create a cozier mood, and bring out soft
chenille or fleece throws to ward off the chill. Set up a new display on the
mantel to create a wintertime focal point--dark colors and layers of
objects supply rich texture that adds increases the cozy factor. Some
homeowners keep two sets of slipcovers, white for summer and a dark, warm color
for winter.
Put Up Storm Windows
Install storm windows to reduce air leakage year-round. You
can find storm windows with vinyl, wood, or aluminum frames and glass or
plastic panes. Glass is heavier but longer lasting and clearer than plastic,
which scratches easily and yellows over time. Interior storm windows are
generally mounted inside the window jambs or flush with the molding. They're
easy to install but must be removed when you want to open the windows to let in
fresh air. An exterior double-track or triple-track storm window is permanently
installed on the outside of the window, and the lower half of the window moves
in a separate track from the screen so you can lower or raise it to control air
flow.
Clean the Gutters
Whether your gutters have become roofline planters like this
one or have simply accumulated a season's worth of fallen leaves, get them
cleaned out before winter rains and snows arrive. After scooping out leaves and
debris, flush the gutters and downspouts with a strong stream of water from a
hose. Make sure the gutters fit snugly against the house and repair any cracks
or damage. Many companies offer leaf guards that claim to prevent leaves from
collecting in the gutters, but most don't keep out dirt, debris, and seeds, so
you'll still have to flush them out.
Check Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Experts recommend replacing the batteries in smoke alarms
twice a year, and if your smoke alarm is between 5 and 10 years old, replace it
with a new one. There should be at least one smoke alarm on every level of your
house and one in or near each bedroom. Safety experts recommend similar
placement for carbon monoxide detectors--high on the wall, one on every level
of the home, and near bedrooms. Where NOT to put them: within 15 feet of gas appliances,
furnace, or fireplace because these give off small amounts of carbon
monoxide when they're first turned on and would trigger false alarms.
Have the Furnace Inspected
Call an HVAC professional to check the fan belt that runs
the blower, vacuum out dust and debris, and oil the bearings if necessary.
Buy enough filters to see you through the winter months and change them
monthly--when filters become clogged with dust, the furnace doesn't operate
efficiently and your energy bill goes up. Set the thermostat at 68 to save on
energy costs, and consider replacing a manually controlled thermostat with a
programmable one. This allows you to set the temperature at a comfortable level
when you're in the house and cut it back to a cooler level when you're at work.
Used properly, programmable thermostats can save up to $180 a year on heating
and cooling costs.
Time to Go Tankless?
Conventional storage water heaters use energy to
keep the tank full of hot water at all times; a tankless heater provides hot
water only when you need it, which requires less energy thus saving you money.
Whole-house tankless heaters are probably not cost effective for most
homeowners--they cost more upfront than storage water heaters, and installation
costs are also much higher and more complicated. Point-of-use heaters, however,
are small and installed where you use them--at the kitchen sink or in
the bathroom--and because they only need to furnish enough hot water for
fixtures in that area, they can be efficient, cost-effective, and green.
Gas-fired models deliver hot water at a faster rate than electrical models,
which require upgraded wiring if they have to do much more than supply hot
water to a bathroom sink.
Plug Hidden Leaks
About 30 percent of the cold air that leaks into your home
comes through holes where pipes, vents, or electrical conduits run through the walls,
ceiling, and floors. Check under sinks in the kitchen and bathroom and
in the basement for gaps around pipes, and fill them in with an insulating foam
sealant. Small gaps can be effectively sealed with caulk
Protect Pipes from Freezing
To minimize the possibility of water freezing in your
plumbing pipes causing them to burst, wrap each pipe in a blanket of
foam insulation. Check hardware stores for these foam tubes, which have a slit
on one side. Just cut the tube to the length you need, pull the slit open, and
push the tube onto the pipe. If the slit doesn't have self-adhesive edges, use
duct tape to secure it.
Add Insulation
Check the attic to see whether you need to add insulation --
experts recommend a depth of about 12 inches. Ultra Touch from Bonded Logic is
an eco-friendly, formaldehyde-free insulation made from the scraps and waste
left over from the manufacture of blue jeans. It's treated with a boron-based
solution to prevent mold and mildew growth, discourage pests, and retard fire,
and it won't irritate your skin during installation.
