Five more ways to keep the heat in this winter

Want to save money on heating this winter? Here are five steps you can take to keep the heat in.

The previous post in the Simple Ways to Save Money This Winter series focused on with exterior walls.  Here we discover five other insulation solutions that are not only inexpensive but can be done in a short amount of time and don’t require you to tear down walls to accomplish.

Save money and heat with these easy insulation tips:

To determine the best place to start in your home, take an energy audit.  You can either find a local energy auditor, or take your own free energy audit.  Once you’re ready, here are some of the quickest, easiest, and least expensive places to insulate.

1. Plumbing: Inadequate insulation can create substantial heat loss, in and around your plumbing.

• Stuff steel wool in gaps around the pipes using gloves and a chop stick or fondue fork to push in. Then fill with fiberglass or foam insulation
• Caulking afterwards will give the project that “finished” look.
• Add foam covers to hot water pipes. This will save on the loss of heat as the water travels to its destination. Of course, tank-less water heaters are the greenest way to go, and most luxurious!
• Gas pipes should be checked as well.
  Tip: Look under sinks, in the laundry room, in cellars, and around anywhere else that plumbing comes out from the wall.

2. Duct work: Seal around heat ducts and AC vents. The cellar is a good place to start here.

• Stuff steel wool in gaps around the pipes using gloves and a chop stick or fondue fork, then fill with natural fiber, fiberglass or foam insulation.
• Caulking afterwards gives the project a “finished” look.

3. Sill: This is the area where the ceiling meets the floor of your first floor.

• Go around the sill plate and fill in gaps with natural fiber or foam.

4. Seal foundation with moisture block: Foundation repair can be very expensive if left untreated.

• Consider using liquid rubber waterproofing to keep moisture from damaging your foundation.

5. Attic door or hatch

• Place a blanket on fold-down stairs, making sure the blanket is touching the edges. When closing the stairs, you create a insulated seal.
• Bead or squirt caulking or use spray foam around the gaps in the hatch.
• Use fiberglass to insulate around the hatch.

Remember: Choose natural insulation whenever you can. As you can see, there are many options to fix these areas.  If you have other ideas, please add them in a comment. We’d love to hear your heat saving solutions.

About the author:  Loretta White is a respected member of the global manufacturing industry and brings over 20 years experience in consulting. Loretta lectures on: Sales, Business Development and Green Business practices and is a published author on sustainability techniques.

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