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Fill the cracks and keep energy costs low

Staff writer

There have been a few crisp, cool days this year, and as October progresses, it's evident that winter is just around the corner.

Since natural gas prices are expected to increase by 50 to 70 percent in the upcoming months, homeowners should put some serious thought and effort into winterizing homes.

One of the first things homeowners should do is determine where they are losing the most energy, said Matt Kukuk of The Lumberyard in Hillsboro.

"Prioritize where the greatest amount of loss of energy is," said Kukuk.

To do this, search for drafts, and assess the age and condition of doors and windows.

"The largest sources of energy loss are doors and windows," said Kukuk.

As well as checking the condition of doors and windows, look at the condition of the weatherstripping on doors, the fit of sashes, and the type of glass in the window.

According to Kukuk, one of the first things a homeowner can do is to make sure glazing around the glass in windows is intact, and not cracked or broken. If the glazing isn't in good condition, reglazing would be one way of stopping energy loss.

"This could easily be a do-it-yourself project," said Kukuk.

Another thing to check is the integrity of the window structure itself. Look at windows inside and outside to see if sashes have shrunk away. If this is a problem, make sure the area is painted, without a lot of flaking or cracking of the paint.

There are several caulks on the market that can be used for winterizing, said Kukuk. Homeowners can use these to seal gaps around windows. Caulking will seal windows shut and is easily removed in the spring.

Adding storm windows also will help cut energy loss.

If you already have storm windows, make sure the glass is intact, the corners fit together, and the weatherstripping is in good shape.

For doors, homeowners can add weatherstripping to the jams, and check to make sure the threshold is intact and in good shape.

"One of the best types of thresholds is a rubber sealing surface that compresses when the door is closed," said Kukuk.

Adding storm doors also can help stop escaping energy. However, make sure the door has a good seal first. According to Kukuk, adding a new storm door when the original door doesn't have a good seal can allow condensation to form in the hollow air space.

Two often overlooked spaces are attics and basements or crawl spaces.

Attic insulation should have a rating of R-30 or above. For blown-in insulation that means approximately nine to 12 inches of insulation.

You can either check the depth of the insulation yourself with a ruler, or have a professional check it for you.

"Typically, a nine- to 12-inch fill will fluff beyond the ceiling joists," said Kukuk.

If additional insulation is necessary, a general contractor can help with this project.

To check basements or crawl spaces for energy loss, do a walk-around outside the home to check the foundation for cracks or small gaps.

"Look for anywhere cold air could infiltrate," said Kukuk.

Cracks can be filled with mortar, expandable foam, or caulk.

Consider insulating any exposed water pipes in crawl spaces or basements to keep heat from dissipating.

It's also important to have furnaces serviced before the weather turns cold. Kukuk also suggests replacing filters every 30 days to keep furnaces running at maximum efficiency.

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