Money Is Pouring Out of Your Home
Where you might ask? Apparantly, right there in the middle of your living room. Allow me to elaborate…
As it gets colder, the idea of putting the heat on gets higher and higher on the list of things to do. (Also, don’t forget about your outside hose bibs!) Naturally, you want to keep the heat in and the cold out but as heat rises, one spot the heat is dumping outside is the fireplace.
It is a common misconception that having a fire is warmer, cheaper alternative to anything else. What is actually optimal is maintaining the heat already in your home. Using your fireplace each night can actually raise your monthly heating bill by 20% (WP&L Energy) You might need to milk your heat as well as your money in this case. ;) Even if you don’t use your fireplace, your dampers (or seals) may be failed and you don’t even realize it.
One way to be sure that heat stays inside where you have paid for it is a Chiminy Balloon. This handy invention does jsut what you think it might…it is made of a tough polymer that gets inserted into the shaft of your chiminy and inflated blocking any cool air out and retaining all that “bought air” right in your home. Check out their website and get the gritty details.
Here are some other useful tips:
- Seal and insulate first. Energystar.gov states that sealing and insulating is the most cost effective and high return way to lower heating bills.
- Don’t use your open wood or gas log fireplace. Seal the flue or damper up tight with a Chimney Balloon and don’t let it rob heat from your home.
- Pick a low cost heating fuel and get an efficient device that consumes that fuel. (Wood or Bio Fuel = EPA certified stove or fireplace insert, Natural Gas = 90% efficient direct vent furnace or fireplace) Try to stay away from expensive fuel options like electric and heating oil.
- Have an energy audit done. Many states are offering free or reduced energy audits through the state Department of Energy program. These audits offer targeted tips on how your home can be more efficient.
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