When wanting to make your home more efficient in its use of energy, there are some big changes that you may need to make, such as changing to vinyl windows, adding insulation or installing a new furnace. There are also some smaller changes that are often handy in making the home more comfortable for you.
Many homes built before 1950 had no insulation installed when they were built. Other homes may have had insufficient insulation. Whenever your home was built, adding the enough insulation to bring the walls and ceiling of your home to the correct R value can help to lower your energy cost and keep your home from feeling drafty.
In many older homes wooden or aluminum windows were used. Often these older windows were single pane glass and they allowed a lot of heat loss. In addition, the single pane windows often allowed condensation to build up in the winter and this could lead to the formation of many different molds, including the unhealthy black mold.
Over time, wooden windows can become difficult to open or close and they may need to be replaced. Double pane vinyl windows are an easy choice. They remain easy to open for many years and the insulated double pane glass prevents heat loss and condensation.
If your home had the original or an older furnace, it may be expensive to replace, but newer furnaces are much more energy efficient. Newer furnaces can provide the same amount of heat as the older ones while using much less energy. You may save enough in power that you can pay for the new furnace in the matter of a couple of years.
Many local utilities offer customers a free energy audit. The service helps you to know your home better and to know where your should spend your dollars to make the house more energy efficient.
Many of the changes recommended by an energy audit can be inexpensive but will stop some of the draftiness of a home. By adding caulking around door and window facings, you can often stop cold air from penetrating your home and making it uncomfortable.
The person performing the audit can teach you how to insulate switches and electrical outlets to block cold air from entering your home. These little leaks can add up to equal a window being wide open and letting cold air blow into the house you are trying to heat.
Fireplace dampers need to be kept closed when the fireplace is not in use. Additionally, consider installing a fireplace air pillow which gives insulation and helps block downdrafts when the fireplace is not being used to heat the home.
For many homes these small changes can make a huge difference in your comfort. Other homes may need the larger upgrades like a new furnace or adding vinyl windows. Even with the large upgrades, the cost is often saved within just a few months of lower energy bills.
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