Wintertime Home Advice – Part One (Also Printed in January Snap South Simcoe Paper)

Every winter people look for ways to improve their home efficiency to reduce heating costs. This month I will quickly touch on the heating system and insulation. I will try to stay away from common advice but some things are worth repeating. Next month I will discuss weather proofing and occupant lifestyle.

Heating System Advice: Most homes either have a boiler or more commonly a furnace to heat their homes. If you have a boiler, when was the last time you vacuumed the radiators? If they are all blocked up with dust and cobwebs, their efficiency is reduced. If you have a forced air heating system, how clean is your filter?  If the filter is dirty, the furnace has to work harder. You don’t need an expensive filter. An inexpensive filter replaced more often can do a better job than an expensive filter that is dirty and doesn’t get replaced as often. Do you have curtains or furniture that cover up the radiators or vents? How about rugs over those air-return vents? Blocking air flow anywhere along the system reduces efficiency. Don’t forget to service your heating system; most heating systems need a yearly tune up, especially brand new homes with high efficiency furnaces. The cost of a yearly regular maintenance program is usually cheaper than an emergency service call.

Insulation Advice: If your home was built prior to the 1980’s it is probably under insulated. A well insulated roof will prevent heat from escaping. If your roof has no snow while everyone else does, you may be losing heat into your roof space.  Pop your head into the roof space. With a tape measure, see if you have less than 11-12 inches of insulation, if so you should consider getting more. If you don’t know how to maintain your roof ventilation while adding insulation, have a professional do it for you. Check that attic hatch while you’re there. The hatch itself should be insulated and have weather-stripping to keep warm air from leaking out.  If you have an older home with single pane glass then you’re losing a lot of heat. If you can’t afford replacing your windows, there are window insulation kits that use a plastic on the window interior to create the effect of a second pane which works better.