Doing a Home Energy Audit Yourself – Part 4 What to do about Windows, Doors and Furnace
4. Windows
• Here you want to get the best performance out of what you have or have them replaced.
• If you have old wood single pane windows then you can tighten them up with a V self adhesive weather strip.
• Make good all cracked or missing panes. If you have storm windows make sure the same it true for them. If you don’t have storm windows, today the cost to replace the whole window is not much different cost than buying a storm window.
• Make sure the caulking around the window frame is good both inside and out.
• Thermal pane windows are a must today and vinyl replacement windows are the best way to go. If you replace a couple a year in 3 or 4 years you could have the whole house done. There also isn’t much mess created installing them.
5. Doors
• Here again you want to ensure that you’re getting the best performance out of what you have.
• If there are air leaks around the door you probably need new weather stripping. There are spring tension ones that do the best job but don’t get them too tight (just snug) or the door won’t work well.
• This is also true for how threshold seals the bottom of the door. You want them tight but not over tight. I find that a door sweep really works the best but may need replacing more often.
• If you have a storm door it too needs to fit and work well. Over time the hinging breaks down and the door won’t adjust properly and it will need to be replaced.
• Old wood doors can crack and are hard to weather strip well. Today’s steel entry doors are very efficient as they are foam filled and they are the standard to work toward.
6. Water Heater & Furnace
• Newer water heaters have adequate insulation built into them but older water heaters may benefit from the installation of a water heater insulation jacket. You may also save by installing water pipe insulation the first 10 – 20 feet hot water pipe.
• The water temperature is another issue. We can often turn our water heater temperature down a little and still be comfortable, but save a lot.
• Old furnaces are not very efficient however if serviced by a professional on a regular basis and by changing the filter regularly you will get the most out of it.
• Newer High efficiency furnaces save you big on your utilities and you can recover your investment in approximately 5 years.
• Make sure any ducting runs through areas not heated or cooled, are wrapped with insulation. It won’t cost you much but can save you a lot.
7. Fireplace
• Fireplaces can take more heat out of a home than they provide. Just keeping the damper closed when you’re not using the fireplace will help.
• You can decrease the heat loss by installing glass doors.
• The best thing you can do though is seal it off completely or install an insert into your fireplace.
8. Thermostat Setting
• Having a good programmable thermostat is a great investment and programming it to be at your comfort level only when you are in the house and up is important. Keeping it 5 – 10 degrees lower at other times will make a big difference
• Another simple thing is to wear more than a T shirt around the house in the winter or even by adding a sweater will help keep you comfortable. This will allow you can keep the thermostat set lower to save you money.
If you get all these up to standard then you are well on your way to having an efficient home.
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