United Country Real Estate

YOUR COUNTRY HOME FOR LESS When temperatures drop heating costs can quickly rise. This doesn’t have to be the case with some simple home improvements you can significantly reduce the cost of heating your country home.

by SJ Munoz

PLUG DRAFTS OR LEAKS

through your chimney. Closing the flue and inserting an inflatable chimney balloon when the fireplace is not in use will eliminate any lost heat.

walls can be drafty if they aren’t installed correctly. Fix any drafts by filling gaps with caulk or foam sealant depending upon the size of the gap. Use portable heaters and turning your furnace down on occasions when only gathering spaces such as the living room are being occupied. As long as you monitor your electricity usage with this method reducing the furnace temperature should offset the cost of using a space heater. Fireplaces offer additional heat, but when not in use warm air can be escaping HEAT SOURCES

Replace weatherstripping and caulking around doors and windows every few years based upon wear. According to Black Hill Energy as much as 12 percent of a home’s heat loss occurs around windows and doors. Replacing is as easy as pulling of the old and tacking on the new. If daylight is visible under a door you can adjust the threshold without interfering with opening and closing it. Covering patio doors with plastic film which can be quickly removed in the spring

30 percent of the air that moves through the system because of poorly connected ducts. United Country Real Estate boasts experts of country homes throughout the nation. We can help you live the lifestyle you’ve always dreamed about. Contact us today to learn how.

ATTICS AND BASEMENTS

Even if your attic is well insulated the access door may not be properly installed. Secure the attic hatch with adhesive or use a latch bolt system to ensure the door closes tight. Check the ductwork in the attic or basement and seal any leaks with mastic sealant or metal tape. Energy Star figures state the typical house with forced-air heating losses upwards of

SOURCE: http://www. popularmechanics.com/ home/how-to/g737/9- sneaky-ways-to-cut- your-home-heating-bills/

is another seasonal method of reducing heat loss. Electrical boxes on exterior

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