Saving Energy by Improving Home Exteriors

When the weather is warm we tend to spend time in our yards mowing the lawns, trimming the bushes, planting flowers. We all have a desire to want the outside of our houses look nice. Whereas this is often a worthy cause, are we putting as much diligence into making the outside of our homes cost efficient? We work hard to keep a roof over our heads thus why toss money away by permitting heat to escape?

The majority of the houses heat escapes in the course of drafts. Filling these drafts will save on the heating cost over time. Do a walkthrough around the exterior of you home to find what has to be improved. First you should examine all the areas where two different construction materials meet for example where the siding meets the chimney and where the foundation meets the exterior brick or siding. Examine all exterior corners as well. Youll need to fill any cracks or openings in the mortar, the foundation or the siding. Make sure to fill them with the suitable substance. If you are going to complete a job, do it right. And, it can last longer if its done the proper way with the correct material. You will also want to inspect where faucets or pipes extend from the exterior. Make certain there are not any holes around them as well. In your exterior inspection, dont miss the windows and doors. Make sure that theyre all properly caulked and that windows and doors seal tightly. Some people have air conditioners mounted directly into the wall rather than in a window throughout the summer months. While this might save on time of installing and un-installing the air conditioner each year, it is also a great way to let in drafts throughout the winter months. Make certain that the area round the air conditioner is properly sealed. If you dont have one by now, invest in a cover that may be placed over the unit in the winter. This can stop the unwanted cold air from getting in your home.

Also, make sure that your house is properly insulated. This will save you a large amount of money. In particular check the attic. Make certain that there is a steam barrier under the attic insulation. Water vapor will pass through the ceiling. With large amounts of moisture, the effectiveness of your insulation goes down and may cause structural damage. In order to prevent this, you should have a vapor barrier which may be tarpaper, Kraft paper attached to fiberglass batts, a plastic sheet or vapor barrier paint. Additionally make sure that any gaps round the pipes, ductwork or chimney is correctly sealed.

If youve got the funds, you might need to consider replacing recent doors or windows with new energy efficient ones. While this can be an improvement that will dip into your pocket, it will as well save you cash on heating. With the price of home heating, making sure that the exterior of your home is properly sealed is almost a necessity.