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Making our homes more efficient is definitely beneficial to both the consumer as well as the planet. The expenses are always rising without an end in sight, mostly with regards to energy costs. However, draught proofing your home to reduce energy bills this winter will help cut costs dramatically.
One thing that every homeowner needs to understand is that even the smallest hole can cause a great deal of heat loss. The way to determine whether there is a draught occurring is by using the smoke of a stick of incense and waiting especially for a cold or windy day. If the smoke is disturbed in any way, then you know you have some work ahead of you.
By sealing the gaps, the home will be more comfortable and the heat loss will be reduced by about 10%. Correcting these gaps or cracks is often easy to do and requires only materials that can be found at local hardware stores which are quite inexpensive.
When an individual resolves these issues, their savings can be phenomenal when calculated on a yearly basis, multiplied over several years. So, the time, effort and small investment to correct them will surely pay themselves off in no time.
Remember to check not only the obvious places which are the doors and windows, but also plumbing connections to the walls, the dryer outlet and its exhaust, and all electrical boxes on external walls. If there is a fireplace in the home, it is important to check this as well because these sneaky leaks can cost an extra 8% on your heating bill.
As most people don't use their fireplaces on a daily basis, it is recommended to make a removable seal which is done with an inexpensive 2 inch piece of Styrofoam. The seal can be made more attractive by covering it with a fabric that matches the room. This tip can only be used on wood burning fireplaces, so if you have a gas burning fireplace consult a professional. Also, make sure that the flue is always closed when not being used.
For the windows, it is not uncommon for draughts to occur and sometimes it can be a big job to correct it. To do a thorough job, it would require removal of the moldings, applying foam sealant, and then reinstalling the moldings with a small bead of caulking all around it. The caulking should also be done around the outside perimeter of the windows. Another tip is to install heavy weight fabric, vertical or horizontal blinds to reduce the draught even further.
One thing that every homeowner needs to understand is that even the smallest hole can cause a great deal of heat loss. The way to determine whether there is a draught occurring is by using the smoke of a stick of incense and waiting especially for a cold or windy day. If the smoke is disturbed in any way, then you know you have some work ahead of you.
By sealing the gaps, the home will be more comfortable and the heat loss will be reduced by about 10%. Correcting these gaps or cracks is often easy to do and requires only materials that can be found at local hardware stores which are quite inexpensive.
When an individual resolves these issues, their savings can be phenomenal when calculated on a yearly basis, multiplied over several years. So, the time, effort and small investment to correct them will surely pay themselves off in no time.
Remember to check not only the obvious places which are the doors and windows, but also plumbing connections to the walls, the dryer outlet and its exhaust, and all electrical boxes on external walls. If there is a fireplace in the home, it is important to check this as well because these sneaky leaks can cost an extra 8% on your heating bill.
As most people don't use their fireplaces on a daily basis, it is recommended to make a removable seal which is done with an inexpensive 2 inch piece of Styrofoam. The seal can be made more attractive by covering it with a fabric that matches the room. This tip can only be used on wood burning fireplaces, so if you have a gas burning fireplace consult a professional. Also, make sure that the flue is always closed when not being used.
For the windows, it is not uncommon for draughts to occur and sometimes it can be a big job to correct it. To do a thorough job, it would require removal of the moldings, applying foam sealant, and then reinstalling the moldings with a small bead of caulking all around it. The caulking should also be done around the outside perimeter of the windows. Another tip is to install heavy weight fabric, vertical or horizontal blinds to reduce the draught even further.
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Check out our website for tips on how to reduce your energy bills this winter, now. You can also find information about a reliable sash window draught proofing and sash window refurbishment company, today.
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