Where most of the country calls winter weather for Columbia, South Carolina a heat wave by their standards, we’re having what WE call a cold snap.  Since we are more concerned with finding cool air in the hot summers of South Carolina, we may have forgotten all about preparing our homes for winter.  So, when does one prepare for winter?  Is it ever too late?  Well, if you’re feeling a chill in the air, it’s a good time to think about winterizing your home to reduce your heating bills.

There are five activities which will save you the most money:  inspecting insulation, sealing gaps, and maximizing the heating and hot water systems.  According to the Department of Energy, the cost to heat an average home nationally is approximately $1,400.   Experts claim that you can save close to 50 percent of that if your home is winterized the right way.

Inspect Your Insulation

Since warm air rises, the single most effective way to save on heating is to have adequate attic insulation. If you don’t know how to tell, look for your ceiling joists. If you can see them, you need more insulation.

Some home maintenance experts use the new “Miraflex Insulation” for homes. It is the first new glass-fiber insulation to be developed in nearly 60 years. Traditional insulation, known for being scratchy and irritating to the skin, costs approximately 25 cents per square foot. Miraflex is about twice as much, but it is estimated the yearly savings from using it could be as much as $150 to $200.

Plug the Gaps Outside

The next step in keeping your house cozy is to keep cold air out. To do this, you must seal up all cracks on the exterior perimeter of the home. Areas around windows and outdoor faucets can let in a tremendous amount of cold air. Use standard caulking or new Sidewinder Caulk that is appropriate for use in temperatures below 40 degrees. Simply inspect the exterior of the home and apply the caulk wherever you see any cracks, gaps or holes.

The estimated cost of caulk is about $10 per tube. A homeowner could have yearly savings from caulking alone at $80 to $100.

Stop the Leaks Inside

Now, it’s time to seal up the inside of the home. Cracks around windows, on perimeter walls and around electrical outlets on exterior walls can create a tremendous leak of warm air. Again, simply use a standard caulking gun, apply caulk to any areas where you can see a crack or gap or feel a draft. This will provide a more airtight envelope around the home.

Once you have sealed up the cracks, turn your attention to drafty, inefficient windows. If new windows are not in your budget, use a window insulation kit like the one that is available from Duck brand. This kit is very easy to install and costs about $3 per window.

The estimated cost of caulk is about $10 per tube. The window insulation kit costs $15, and each kit can cover 3-5 windows. The estimated yearly saving is $60 to $80.

Maximize Your Heating System

There are many ways you can maximize the efficiency of your current heating system. For safety reasons, have a professional inspect your heating system every year to ensure that it is operating properly. Having ducts cleaned and filters changed will immediately produce results in the amount of heat produced.

Another way to save money is by using a setback thermostat. This allows you to heat your home when you are there and let the temperature drop a little when you are out. It is much less expensive to heat the home back up than it is to keep it at the same temperature all day long.

Another trend in heating is “zone heating.” By using devices that heat the area of the home where you spend the most time rather than heating the entire house, you can save additional dollars.  When the HVAC system is used for cooling in the summer months, this zoning system will pay for itself many times over.  South Carolineans’ largest energy bills come in summer months, when air conditioners are on non-stop.  WIth a zoning system, homeowners can turn off or turn up different zones to keep the house comfortable and save money in the process.

Keep your Hot Water Hot

On an average, it takes 14 percent of your overall utility bill to provide hot water. Savings can be realized by wrapping a water heater blanket around your water heater, insulating your water pipes and considering the installation of a timer on all electric water heaters.

On average, a hot water heater blanket could cost $15; the hot water pipe wraps cost about $20; and the electric water heater timer to cost $60. The estimated yearly saving is $30 to $40.  A hot product these days (pardon the pun) is the tankless water heater.  Some claim these units will save homeowners incredible sums of money, while they could be cost prohibitive for some and not an option. 

So, is your house ready for the cold snap?  Taking a few moments and perhaps a trip to your local hardware store could help save you a lot of money.  In addition, it could give you peace of mind that your home is ready, no matter what Mother Nature throws at us.

Your “No Bull” Realtor,

Kathy Smith
Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors, Inc.
(888) 808-4Moo ext. 0
(803) 781-5729
http://www.kathy.smith.net/