Easy diy heating

The best way to discover where you are losing heat is to have an energy audit conducted.  This audit usually will detect waste and gauge the efficiency of your current heating system.  If your utility company does not provide this service, you can conduct your own energy audit.  Start by walking through your home and look for areas that may need maintenance or problems that require repairing. 

Check your attic, basement, and attached garage walls to ensure that you have sufficient insulation that is recommended by the Department of Energy for your area.  For cold climates, it is recommended to have R-38 in the roof, R-19 in the walls, and R-22 in the floor.  For moderate climates, the recommended R-values are R-26 in the roof, R-19 in the walls and R-11 in the floor.

Make sure that your hot water heater is wrapped in an insulating jacket.

Either perform the required yearly maintenance including cleaning or replacing filters on forced-air furnaces, heat pump, furnace, or boiler or schedule an appointment with your HVAC service person.  Check with your utility company, as many provide this service.

Either seal and insulate all leaky ducts, around windows, doors, and cracks in the exterior of your home and also all holes around plumbing and heating pipes or hire a professional to do this.  By sealing and insulating your home, you ensure the airflow distribution system that serves your heating system is at peak efficiency.  Keep fireplace flues closed when not in use.  Close your foundation vents in the winter if there’s a crawl space under your home.

Consider installing insulated or thick drapes over windows to reduce heat-loss at night.

Install a programmable thermostat, which will automatically lower temperatures at night and when you are no at home.  Close doors to rooms that you are not using.  

Every year there seems to be a host of energy-saving products and services out on the market.  However, many of these products are bogus devices and gadgets that only purpose is to separate homeowners from their money.  Therefore, before you invest in any energy-saving product, which promises to drastically reduce your heating and energy bills make sure that you carefully read all energy-saving claims and if possible obtain independent information on the product.  DO NOT fall victim to unsolicited door-to-door sales, or phone calls from contractors offering furnaces, windows, roofing, or other home improvement projects.  Many times these individual are scam artist who are only interested in taking your money. 

If you need any home improvement work done, then first you must ensure that the contractor you are considering is licensed and reputable: Check with your friends and neighbors for referrals; request customer references from the contractor; and check with the Better Business Bureau, as well as state and local consumer protection officials, and your state licensing agency.  The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule grants you three (3) business days to cancel a contract signed in your home or at a location other than the contractor’s permanent place of business.

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