Save money each and every month and conserve energy in the process by David Squire
Do you want to save money on your monthly heating cost? Are you ready to stop wasting energy?
Do you know how much energy is wasted each and every day in your home? It's time we all do our part and start conserving energy.
Do you feel a cold draft when you walk by your windows?
There are several steps you can take to save energy from wasting away. Start by walking around your home and feel for cold drafts. Put your hands up close to you windows and feel for cold air. If you feel air at your windows, you are wasting energy. Your heating system is overworking itself by trying to warm the air that is seeping in through your windows.
You will be surprised how much energy is lost in a single day. In most cases, by sealing up these window drafts, the money spent with some simple materials could be paid back in savings on your monthly heating bill in as little as two months.
It's time we all do our part and help conserve energy. Below you will find some simple steps to help you save energy. I have put together an easy solution anyone can do to help you seal up those drafty windows and conserve energy while saving on your monthly heating bill.
You will need a few things from the hardware store. One is caulking. If you have painted wood trim around your windows, you should try and match the wood color to the color of the caulking so the caulking and wood will blend in. If your wood trim is naturally stained, you could use a clear silicone caulking.
Next you will need some foam insulation weather striping with self-adhesive backing. This foam insulation comes in several sizes, so you might want to get a few different sizes and take back the ones you don’t use when you have completed the job.
Start with the caulking. Open the window and make note of the position of the window sash and the frame. You don’t want to caulk this area. You have to make sure your window will open and close properly and not accidentally seal it up for emergency purposes. If you have any cold drafts coming in from the frame and wall, this would be the area you need to focus on. Caulk any seams or exposed nail holes and make sure you no longer feel cold air coming in from the frame.
The seam between the sash and the frame is where you install the foam insulation weather striping with the self-adhesion backing. Install the weather striping on the sash of the window and not the frame. You want the insulation as close to the frame as possible to seal up any drafts, but make sure you don’t impede the workings of the window.
Also, when the window is open, check the underside of the sash for a strip of insulation. If you do not see or feel any insulation, you can apply a strip of foam weather striping with the self-adhesion backing. You can apply it to the sash or the contact point at the frame just under the sash. When the window is closed, it will sandwich the insulation and create a tight seal.
Onto the glass. If you are experiencing cold air coming in between the glass and the sash, you will need a clear silicone sealant. Just cut the caulking tube end very small so you do not have a lot of excess. Place a small bead of clear silicone between the glass and the sash. If you get too much on the glass, you can use a dry paper towel and wipe the excess off.
You should no longer feel any cold air coming through or around your windows anymore, and you're off to a good start with conserving energy and saving money on your monthly heating cost.
David has been in the remodeling and interior design business for over 18 years and has worked closely with hundreds of designers to bring their creations to life with model perfect showcases. He has used his experience to help customers, from choosing the right colors to rearranging their interiors for a more relaxed-feeling atmosphere. He has had a passion for the arts and spends his free time on personal projects, from arts and crafts to personal well-being. He continually shares ideas and suggestions for improving one's surroundings to give a positive, stress-free living environment. He has now shifted his attention to helping others find the best prices and products for their own creations from arts and crafts to interior designs at http/:www.superartwork.com and http/:www.bedandbathzone.com.
http//:superartwork.com
