Green in the Winter: Weatherize Your Home

The energy bills go up every winter as the temperature drops. Weatherizing your home is one of the simplest and most effective ways to save energy and money.  

The average unweatherized house in the United States leaks air at a rate equivalent to a 4-foot-square hole in the wall. So caulking and insulating really do make a difference.

Keep in mind, however, that when you seal air leaks, you also need to be aware of the ventilation of your home. If your house is dusty, moldy or has other air contaminants, then permanently locking that air in the house with you is not healthy.

One of the first steps to good weatherization is to detect where the air is leaking—specifically the places less obvious than door or window cracks, such as between the foundation and walls, the chimney, vents and fans. A good test to see if doors and windows are leaking air is to shut it on a piece of paper and if you can pull the paper out without it tearing, there's a leak.

When it comes time to caulk an area, make sure you clean the area first, removing old caulk and paint. Make sure the area is dry so you don't trap moisture and encourage mold. Make sure you send the caulk all the way to the bottom of a crack to avoid bubbles, and that it sticks to both sides of the seam.

Dominion Energy also has 10 suggestions to save on winter heating bills:

1. Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees. In the winter, set the thermostat between 65 and 70 degrees during the day and to 58 degrees at night or when away from home for several hours. If you have a heat pump, make sure to slowly increase the temperature to avoid running the emergency heat. You can learn more about your thermostat online by visiting the U.S. Department of Energy website.
2. Seal air leaks. Seal all holes from pipes and wires that enter/exit the living space. This includes entrances, pull-downs and attic stair openings, light fixtures, pipes and wires. Attic entryways should be weather stripped and insulated.
3. Seal off fireplaces. Never use a fireplace as a heat source for your home. Even as a supplemental heat source, the cold air introduced to a warm home through an open flue isn't as efficient as sealing off a fireplace and using the primary source of heat. For natural gas fireplaces, turn off the pilot light when not in use. Seal off the fireplace area or the flue area to prevent cold air from leaking in. (Note: Building codes in some areas require that the damper in your chimney to be permanently blocked open if you install gas logs. Please check the building code for your area for the appropriate procedure.)
4. Seal duct work. This is the number one way to conserve energy. Make sure that all ductwork is sealed at joints and intersections with duct sealer or silicone caulk. Otherwise, supply ductwork can leak heated air into the attic or crawl space, and outside air can be drawn into the return ductwork, increasing costs and reducing comfort dramatically. Ducts can be sealed using foil-backed tape or silicon caulking.
5. Lower water heater to 120-125 degrees. Many water heaters are automatically set at 140 degrees. Lowering the temperature on your water heater to between 120 and 125 degrees will reduce the amount of fuel needed to heat the water.
6. Change furnace filters every month. This is the number one reason for furnace breakdowns. Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer. Have a professional check and clean furnaces once a year.
7. Weatherstrip doors and windows. Inspect windows and doors for air leaks. If you can see daylight around a door or window frame, then the door or window needs sealing. Air leaks can be sealed with caulking or weather-stripping.
8. Insulate water pipes coming from the water heater. Insulate the first 3- to 6-feet of cold and hot water pipes near the water heater. Insulating all hot water pipes is not necessary where pipes are located in a crawlspace or attic.
9. Add an insulation blanket to water heater. Wrapping the water heater with an insulation blanket can save heating money by slowing the drop in temperature from the hot water tank as it sits unused. Inexpensive insulation kits are available at most home improvement stores.
10. Add insulation to attic. When adding insulation, start at the top and work down only after eliminating air infiltration.