I know, I know, I’ve been blogging about it being too hot, well perhaps the heat finally got to me! It really isn’t too soon to start preparing for cold weather and you’ll be glad you did. You can slash your energy costs for your home with these easy fixes according to Lowe’s very helpful monthly Creative Ideas.
Seal the windows, especially in older homes, with Frost King clear polyolefin window kit to cut down on drafts and heating costs.
The clear film shrinks to fit you window and is installed with a hair dryer. Simply remove it in the spring. It will take about 20 minutes/window and cost about $2/window. Reminds me of the ease of installing and removing Casart. Only you don’t need a hair dryer!
Install a Nest Learning Thermostat. For about $250 and 30 minutes of your time it will program itself according to your schedule and needs and you can adjust it over Wi-Fi by a smartphone or laptop.
Weather-strip the doors to reduce drafts. It’s easy if you use self-adhesive strips which will last several years. Cost-about $6/door.
Do you have ceiling fans? If you look closely, you’ll see the switch to reverse the blades to spin clockwise in cooler months to push hot air down into the room and save on heating bills.
Count all the switchplates in your home. Insulating them will cut down on drafts and heating costs. Really! Just unscrew and remove a cover and you’ll be surprised how cool it is in that space! Especially in an old house. A package of 6 is a bargain at $2.
For about $18 for a two-car garage, you can spend an hour installing a top and side seal. Not only will you insulate your garage, you’ll also keep out creatures, water, dust and dirt.
Now, don’t you feel motivated to get started? Oh, and don’t forget to check your furnace filters to see if they need changing, too.
– Lorre Lei
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