Home Renovation proves cost effective on heating

If you live in the average Ontario home, about 25 per cent of your heating bills goes out the window - or door, or attic, or chimney. Sealing those leaks now is the most cost-effective way to cut down on your heating bills this winter.
"Every year we remind homeowners about the importance of caulking and weatherstripping," says Rick Felton, President of Homeservice Club. "If you had a three-inch square hole in an outside wall, you'd fix it promptly. Yet many homeowners ignore that quarter-inch crack under their front door, which will let in just as much cold air as that hole in the wall."
With some simple weatherstripping and caulking, homeowners can dramatically reduce energy loss, Felton added. Hiring a professional with specialized testing equipment can result in even greater energy savings.
Here are some more tips from Homeservice Club of Canada that will help homeowners save energy dollars this winter:
" While windows and doors are the obvious culprits for air leakage, significant air loss can also occur in the attic, around ducts, through fireplace dampers, through mail slots, through cracks in exterior walls, around the openings where utilities and plumbing enter the house, and through the basement walls and floors.
" Make sure your furnace is cleaned and operating efficiently. Replace or clean filters every month during the heating season.
" Install a programmable thermostat, which allows you to program your heating system to your family's schedule and lifestyle.
" Seal electrical outlets and switches with inexpensive insulating gaskets.
Making your home snug for the winter will also save you money. For more home maintenance tips, visit www.homeserviceclub.com .