Saving energy is important for all homeowners for a number of reasons. Not only will keeping a home insulated and weatherized save a homeowner money on his utility and home repair bills, but it will also help the environment. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Check Your Home Insulation
1. The best time of year to ensure that a home is properly insulated and weatherized is the fall. But it can be done any time the weather is nice. Start from the top of your home. Get out a ladder and check to see if a summer storm damaged any of the shingles. If you are not sure how old your shingles are, check a corner by bending it a bit. If it is still flexible, and does not break apart, your roof should be weatherized for the winter. As shingles age, and depending on the severity of the weather in your area, they will break down and become hard and brittle. Shingles may last beyond their warranted time if the weather is mild. Decide what repairs are necessary. While you're on the roof, check your gutters. Clean them out if they need it.
2. Check out your chimney while you are on the roof. Look it over for holes or any other damage. Check the inside. Sweep any debris with a chimney sweep broom. If anything needs to be repaired, get it done before winter comes. If you need repairs that are beyond your skills or there is a lot of soot in the chimney, call a professional. Most chimney fires are caused because the chimneys are not cleaned and maintained properly. You don't want to be on your roof fixing a chimney when there is a cold wind and ice, and snow is flying.
3. Check all exterior walls and windows. A well-weatherized house should not have any damage to its siding or windows. Check your siding for any damage, such as cracks from rocks flying while mowing or damage from debris from a storm. Repair any holes and touch them up with paint that matches your siding. For wood siding, touch up any spots with paint. If larger repairs are needed, you may need to call a professional. Also check out the weatherstripping. Make sure it is in good condition. Replace any that show signs of wear to improve your weatherization.
4. Once the outside of your home is weatherized, the inside should be inspected for any energy loss. The most common places where energy loss occurs are in older windows and doors and exterior walls. Drafty doors and windows can be inexpensively fixed by installing weather stripping, placing plastic over them or replacing them altogether. Choose your fix according to the condition of your doors and windows.
5. Most homes can be made more efficient with an insulation upgrade. Check the amount of insulation in any room's exterior wall by removing an outlet cover and inspecting inside the wall for insulation. Make sure to turn off the electrical power before removing the outlet cover. You should see the insulation. If you do not see any insulation, add some. In addition, check your attic and basement for the proper insulation. All walls and ceilings of the basement and attic should be insulated.
Tags: call professional, Check your, check your, doors windows, energy loss, exterior walls, insulated weatherized
