| In home keeping, one large expense item in the | | | | smoke are alternative methods of finding gaps and |
| household bill is normally electricity usage. It is such an | | | | openings. |
| indispensable need that any power outage raises a | | | | Lower your thermostat setting a little: |
| very audible howl of protest among the population. In | | | | One degree lower and you save about five percent in |
| apportioning electricity usage, meanwhile, heating takes | | | | your electricity bill. And you will hardly notice the |
| a large chunk, often more than the lighting, ironing and | | | | difference in the warmth levels, too. |
| housecleaning portions. It therefore follows that if you | | | | Let the sunshine in: |
| can minimize heat loss in the spaces within your home | | | | If it not too cold, open your drapes and windows during |
| you automatically save on electricity expenses. The | | | | the day to allow the sunshine and its heat into the |
| following suggestions may help you keep the warmth | | | | room, then close them before the day closes to trap |
| in your home better and longer. | | | | the heat in. At least it will jumpstart your temperature |
| Find the air drafts: | | | | control later to minimize radiator or furnace usage. |
| Openings or gaps in your wall, roof or ceiling allow | | | | Refrain from heating spaces you do not use: |
| heated air to escape and cold air to seep in, forcing | | | | If your floors or rooms are heat-controlled separately, |
| your radiator or furnace to work harder to raise the | | | | you can turn down the heat in those you don't use. |
| interior temperature to the level set in the thermostat. | | | | Lowering the thermostat setting on the ground floor |
| This costs you money. | | | | since you all sleep upstairs, for instance, can save |
| To find the drafts, visit the corners where the walls | | | | much electricity consumption in your home. |
| meet and hold up a wet finger. Any extra coldness at | | | | Insulate the house: |
| one side of the finger will indicate an air draft and its | | | | Drafts may still exist in places you cannot reach easily |
| directional source. Gaps may have appeared in the | | | | such as the roof. To determine this, look several times |
| wall's frame abutments due to the wood shrinking | | | | at the snow on your roof a few hours or days after |
| after some time. Scrutinize the place and find the gap | | | | the snowfall stops. If the snow on your roof |
| or gaps so you can seal it with silicone, sealant, filler or | | | | disappears faster than your neighbor's, you might have |
| similar material your hardware salesman or building | | | | a drafty roof which allows heat from the house interior |
| engineer might recommend. | | | | to escape. Have it insulated by a professional so the |
| You may do the same near window frames, door | | | | warmth stays in longer and save you as much as one |
| jambs, floors, foundation concrete and wall sidings, or | | | | third on your heating bill. |
| wherever there possibly are gaps. A lighted candle (if | | | | These simple measures can save you money in the |
| not dangerous), puffs of powder, and cigarette incense | | | | short and long terms so why not do them? |