Green House Trends - Tips

If you want to reduce heating costs this winter, put in a little time now to weather proof your home and prevent heat loss. Here are some tips that might be useful:

# 1 - Seal your windows and doors. If you have your window pane storm right now is a good time to install them. Also, try using foam insulation strips around the edges of windows and doors and you can prevent serious heat loss. Finally, cover the windows as curtains and blinds can also help.

# 2 - Check vents and pipe outlets. Often the source of heat in a home loss occurred at around vents and pipes that come into the house from outside. If the end of the pipe or vent is not sealed and / or isolated you can lose precious heat. Spray foam insulation is a good answer or a problem and can be taken at the hardware store.

# 3 - Vary the heat settings. Rather than leaving your house temperature at the same time throughout the day, reduce the heat in a time when no one at home. For example, you might want to kick up the heat in the morning while your family wake up and go to school or work. However, before you walked out the revolving door thermostat down a few degrees warming than the empty house. Energy Star recommends a programmable thermostat allows you to preset different temperature in your home for several times a day.

# 4 - protect. If you are able to protect your home this autumn may be this winter to pay taxes and about the season. Insulating the basement and your attic can help reduce heat loss by 25-50% depending on your house. Most heat loss occurs through the attic since heat rises, so, that may be the first place you are targeting. And do not forget that there is a tax credit for homeowners who make energy efficient upgrades this year.

# 5 - Is your Furnace Cleaned. Furnaces should be cleaned regularly to keep them in good working order. If you have the furnace cleaned in recent years a good idea to do so. Equipment improperly maintained is one of the main causes of high heating bills in accordance with the Energy Star. Also, keep your furnace working properly means less chance it will fail in the middle of winter. (FYI-home owners insurance does not cover failures due to lack of maintenance tools. A home warranty, however, usually provide this type of coverage.)