We’ve
touched on this a few times in the blog, but a big energy problem in the winter
time is drafts. We hear constantly about windows and doors being big problems.
They are, but there are other places as well, such as the attic, the dryer
vent, and the chimney. Not only is letting heat out of your home dangerous for
your utility bills, it can also be dangerous for the environment. Homes using
fossil fuels account for 6% of the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Remember to
check out our website at www.nhssouthbuffalo.org
to see if you’re eligible for weatherization. Read on to see what you can do
yourself!
We’ve
talked about weather stripping, Draft Snakes, plastic sheeting on the windows,
caulking cracks and adding extra insulation to keep your home from losing heat.
You wouldn’t think there was much else you could do for your home. One of the
things you can do if you have a chimney is use a Chimney Balloon.
This is an inflated, well, balloon-like object that you fit into your chimney
when you are not using your fireplace or woodstove. It keeps the cold air from
coming into your home through the open chimney and it can stand up to the
corrosive chemicals that are in your chimney. The first link at the bottom of
the post demonstrates the use of one, as well as other tips on stopping drafts.
Clothes
dryer and exhaust ducts are also big problems when it comes to drafts and heat
escaping the home. Often, the vent on the clothes dryer duct gets stuck open
due to the lint from the dryer (which I suspect is melted socks that have gone
missing). Now, first and foremost, I must say lint in the duct is dangerous and
the cause of countless house fires each year. That being said, you should clean
your duct regularly to avoid it getting stuck open or something even worse.
Another thing you should do is switch to a
different vent seal. This one opens when the dryer is running only, and
closes when it is not.
Attic
stairs and other access hatches (think crawl space) create another area of heat
loss and drafts in the house. Remember in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
when Clark Griswold gets trapped in the attic and has to wear all those old
lady clothes? To prevent drafts coming down from your attic, an easy solution
is getting an attic stair cover. It’s insulated and can be custom to your
stairs’ hatch size. Again, the video in the first link demonstrates it.
