Many older homes, and maybe some newer homes, are not tightly sealed and protected from the elements. If you home is drafty, consider making some simple home improvements to save some money and keep your family comfortable during the frigid winter months. For just a few dollars, you can save much more than your investment on home energy and heating costs by installing shrink wrap plastic sheeting over your drafty windows and wall or window air conditioning units. (Photo by Datarec, Flickr)
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By Mike Brandolino
Save Energy This Winter With SCGH
The harsh and frigid winds relentlessly bombard your home without regard for your family’s well- being and comfort. The winds howl and whistle through tiny spaces and crevices in your doors and windows. These leaks cause your home energy costs to soar.
The cold draft chills your bones and keeps the boiler or furnace running. Exposed pipes in your basement, cellar, crawl spaces, and utility rooms are losing expensive and valuable heat or even freezing. All this adds to unnecessary home energy expenses that can be reduced with minimal costs.
Many older homes, and maybe some newer homes, are not tightly sealed and protected from the elements. If you home is drafty, consider making some simple home improvements to save some money and keep your family comfortable during the frigid winter months.
Air sealing your home is easy and effective. It is never too late to take action against the plunging temperatures outside, and Sierra Club Green Home is sure you won”t regret this investment to save energy.
Do-It-Yourself Home Insulation
For just a few dollars, you can save much more than your investment on home energy best online casino and heating costs by installing shrink wrap plastic sheeting over your drafty windows and wall or window air conditioning units. Pipe insulation reduces the effects of heated water from cooling down and cold water lines from freezing. Save energy with two simple solutions.
Window Shrink Wrap Insulation
There are many brands of window plastic film shrink wrap on the market. In most cases, you only need scissors and a blow dryer to install the inexpensive and effective product and save energy. The shrink wrap can be easily removed in the spring. Although it is not ideal in the “green” sense because it creates plastic waste, this material does make up for it in fuel saved on heating. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing and removing the product, because the adhesive may leave a residue or remove paint from the window or door frames.
Don’t forget to repair or replace windows that are cracked or broken.
Foam Pipe Insulation
Foam pipe insulation is mobile casino a very affordable and inexpensive way to reduce your home heating costs and possibly save yourself from costly repairs if a pipe freezes and bursts. Foam pipe insulation usually comes in a variety of diameters to fully cover different-sized pipes. The foam tubes are usually pre-cut along the length for easy installation. All you need is a scissors to cut the insulation to fit the length of the pipe and plumbing sections.
Place the foam pipe insulation on all exposed cold and hot water pipes, including boiler and hot water heat pipes, and any other exposed water pipes in your basement, cellar, garage, crawl spaces, utility rooms, and other areas in and around your home. It only takes a few minutes to install the foam pipe insulation. You have just saved some money on your home heating costs.
As a caveat, while this foam is traditionally produced from petroleum, there is now a green alternative produced from mushrooms. Hopefully this material, which is completely biodegradable and sources agricultural waste, will be available in insulation tube form soon.
Prepare for a Long Winter
When you make these simple and inexpensive do-it-yourself home window and pipe insulation repairs, you have will have taken a stance to gain an upper hand against Old Man Winter. You must always be vigilant and be on guard to protect your home and family against winter’s never-ending attack on your home, your family, and your wallet.
© 2012 SCGH, LLC.
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