Reduce Your Heating Bills This Winter

Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, fireplace or clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day.

These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause heat to pour out and the cold outside air to rush in -- costing you higher heating bills.

Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, etc. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits caulk and weatherstripping provide to minimize heat loss and cold drafts.

But what can you do about the three largest "holes" in your home -- the folding attic stair, the fireplace and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.

Attic Stairs

When attic stairs are installed, a large hole (approximately 10 square feet) is created in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only a thin, unsealed, sheet of plywood.

Your attic space is ventilated directly to the outdoors. In the winter, the attic space can be very cold, and in the summer it can be very hot. And what is separating your conditioned house from your unconditioned attic? That thin sheet of plywood.

Often a gap can be observed around the perimeter of the door. Try this yourself: at night, turn on the attic light and shut the attic stairway door -- do you see any light coming through? These are gaps add up to a large opening where your heated/cooled air leaks out 24 hours a day. This is like leaving a window open all year round.

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add an attic stair cover. An attic stair cover provides an air seal, reducing the air leaks. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.

Fireplaces

Sixty-five percent, or approximately 100 million homes, in North America are constructed with wood or gas burning fireplaces. Unfortunately there are negative side effects that the fireplace brings to a home especially during the winter home-heating season. Fireplaces are energy losers.

Researchers have studied this to determine the amount of heat loss through a fireplace, and the results are amazing. One research study showed that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating-energy consumption by 30 percent.

A recent study showed that for many consumers, their heating bills may be more than $500 higher per winter due to the air leakage and wasted energy caused by fireplaces.

Why does a home with a fireplace have higher heating bills? Hot air rises. Your heated air leaks out any exit it can find, and when warm heated air is drawn out of your home, cold outside air is drawn in to make up for it. The fireplace is like a giant straw sucking the heated air from your house.

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a fireplace draftstopper. Available from Battic Door, a company known for their energy conservation products, a fireplace draftstopper is an inflatable pillow that seals the damper, eliminating any air leaks. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.

Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ducts

In many homes, the room with the clothes dryer is the coldest room in the house. Your clothes dryer is connected to an exhaust duct that is open to the outdoors. In the winter, cold air leaks in through the duct, through your dryer and into your house.

Dryer vents use a sheet-metal flapper to try to reduce this air leakage. This is very primitive technology that does not provide a positive seal to stop the air leakage. Compounding the problem is that over time, lint clogs the flapper valve causing it to stay open.

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal. This will reduce unwanted air infiltration, and keep out pests, bees and rodents as well. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape.

About The Author

Mark D. Tyrol is a Professional Engineer specializing in cause and origin of construction defects. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover and a fireplace draftstopper. To learn more visit www.batticdoor.com.

mark@batticdoor.com

---

Log Homes - Is a Log Home In Your Future?

Many people dream about a log home in their future but never get around to making their dream come true. Here's how to get past the hurdles... Read More

From Toss Out to Sensational Keeper - Lamp Re-Make

When the old lamp from my children's room was turning decidedly "trash-worthy", a grand idea formed and kept me from tossing it out. Originally, it had been... Read More

Dual Pane Window Glass Repair

For the past few weeks, I have been explaining how to repair a broken window pane in your home. But, what if you have dual pane windows?... Read More

10 Quick Ways to Change Your Fire-less Fireplace from a Black Hole to a Worthy Focal Point

Everyone loves a fireplace aglow with a roaring fire or flickering embers. But your fireplace need not be a gaping empty hole--like a picture frame without a... Read More

Different Materials Used for Roofing and Determining the Cost of Each One

There is never a structure you will find that lacks a roof; it is an essential part of the house or building. It plays a very important... Read More

Installing Vinyl Replacement Windows In A Wood Frame Opening

When we left off last week, we had removed the old wood sash windows and prepared the opening for the vinyl replacement windows. Now it's time to... Read More

Selecting Color Schemes

Choosing a color scheme for a room can be a daunting task at times, especially if nothing about the room initially jumps out at you. If you... Read More

Age Old Question: Buy New or Remodel Existing Home?

Your house doesn't have enough storage space, bathrooms, or counter space! Not too mention your kitchen is old, small and poorly ventilated. Now you are trying to... Read More

Easy Ways to Increase Your Houses Value

Before getting your house valuated think about the list below and if you should implement them to increase your house's value.Clean up your house: Clean your house... Read More

The Different Roofing Materials Used for Flatroofs, Their Advantages and Disadvantages

The roof has had many different innovations in regards to the materials used to make them. Different designs through the years have made it a necessity to... Read More

Single Pane Window Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame

Let's suppose you still have those old aluminum single pane windows in your house,and one of the neighbor kids throws a ball through it. ( Your kid... Read More

You Say Jacuzzi and I Say Whirlpool

What's in a name? Whirlpool baths have been around forever, right? If it weren't for the Jacuzzi brothers in 1956, we wouldn't have the fantastic whirlpool baths... Read More

An Introduction to Waterproofing Systems

Many homeowners find it necessary to invest in a waterproofing system for their home, especially if their home has a basement or cellar. In modern home developments,... Read More

Choosing a Home Construction or Remodeling Contractor

Choosing the right Contractor is the most important aspect of any home construction project. You must take your time and do your research to find a good... Read More

Installing Retrofit and Replacement Vinyl Windows

In previous articles i explained to you how to determine whether your windows are candidates for vinyl replacement style frames or retrofit style frames. This week I'm... Read More

Home Improvement for The Ladies!

Your Own Homes Improvement Outline(One for the Ladies)Let me begin by saying what a home improvement plan will not do! I have seen this happen more than... Read More

Color Help: Color Imagery for Happy Homes

Color researchers have estimated that up to 70% of our subconscious reactions to people and environments are based solely on our reactions to color. With that in... Read More

Tips on Ladder Safety

PLACEMENT?Ladders should be placed so each side rail is on level and firm footing so the ladder is rigid, stable and secure. ?Boxes, loose bricks, or... Read More

Remodel Your Kitchen or Bathroom For The Best ROI!

Trying to decide which home improvement project to tackle next? To start you must decide if you are remodeling to improve an area of your home that... Read More

Pre-Fabricated Steel Buildings

More and more construction is being done with steel in recent years, as more people learn about the many benefits of using steel vs. other construction materials.... Read More

Prepare for Winter Before It Arrives

Even though we are still enjoying warm weather and winter seems far away, now is a great time to begin preparing. If you do a bit at... Read More

How to Build a Home Sauna - Three Important Questions to Answer Before Building

Considering that home saunas are believed to produce numerous health benefits and provide a relaxing spa experience, it's no wonder than more and more people want to... Read More

Make your Sauna a Focal Point

A sauna has been used throughout history in every part of the world to promote health. The wealthy did not consider their mansions complete without the warmth... Read More

Designing With Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are suited to both casual and formal environments; they feel at home with modern or traditional and will compliment the decor of both minimalist and... Read More

Planning Your In-Wall Speaker System

So you've finally decided to get your favorite music throughout your house. What's next? Where do you go from here? That depends upon your requirements and weather... Read More

Tearing Down the House

Last year, we bought this big ol' 1887 house. We are just now coming to grips with the magnitude of the "upgrades" planned.With a baby on the... Read More