While not technically part of the northeast, we who live in and around Metro DC have lately had winters that would argue this point. (Think of 2009’s “Snowmageddon.”) As the cold months again approach and heating bills loom large, simply sealing up the drafty areas in your home could reduce your heating costs from 3 to 18 percent. In cash savings that equals about $250 on natural gas and $550 for oil heat.
Here are some easy and inexpensive ways to block those drafts and have a more comfy home.
Weather Stripping
To tell if your home has drafty doors, try sliding a piece of paper between doors to the outside, the basement and the attic. If the paper goes in easily, weather stripping is needed.
Rather than the self-adhesive foam that will come off well before spring, use a more durable product such as bronze strips. These are cut to size with metal snips and fastened with nails so they never need replacing. Cost of kit for one door: $20.
Door Sweeps (AKA Draft Dodgers)
Mostly likely you’ve seen or used the version made of material that resembles a stuffed snake. There are also strips that attach to door bottoms. Both of these tend to get in the way, catch on rugs or scratch the floor when the door opens. A newer alternative for our local homes is a spring-loaded automatic sweep that will lift up as the door opens and press down when it closes to seal out drafts. Cost: $11.
Attic Tents
With no sealing or insulation, pull-down ladders to the attic can be huge draft producers. An attic tent is a zippered insulated fabric hut that installs over the ladder opening and is stapled to the attic floor. You zip it open to enter the attic, and zip it closed when you leave. Cost: About $200.
Air Conditioner Covers
Whether it’s an in-wall unit or a large window unit that stays in place all year, air conditioners can let cold winter air blow easily into your DC, Maryland or Virginia home. A custom-made insulated wrap for each unit will quickly and easily solve this draft issue. Cost: $60.
Insulating Foam and Caulk
Use caulk to fill any visible cracks or gaps including where baseboards meet floors and where pipes come through walls under sinks.
To find the not-so-visible gaps, close all doors and windows and then turn on all exhaust fans in the attic, bathrooms and over the stove. This sucks air out of the house and pulls drafts in. Hold a stick of burning incense near the areas stated above as well as any other suspected gaps. If the smoke moves, you’ve found a place to seal with insulating foam. Cost: $3.
A few dollars and a little sweat equity can yield substantial savings without the expense of a new furnace or special home insulation. Try these simple fixes to keep both your home (and your wallet) snug and warm all winter.
Rachel Valentino and her team at Valentino & Associates at Keller Williams are experts in buying and selling real estate in the Greater Washington, DC area. Contact Rachel's Team today for all of your real estate needs. Also ask about home-buying programs in DC that might help you out.
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