Greenbook: A Local Guide to Chesapeake Living - Issue 6 | Page 21

HOMEOWNER TIPS
greenbook
J. Melvin Premier properties

Minor Winter Repairs

Equal Major Savings
Source: Appraisal Institute

A

ccording to the U.S. Department of
Energy’s (DOE) Energy Saver Guide,
the typical U.S. family spends at least
$2,200 per year on home utility bills, and heating
and cooling accounts for the biggest portion –
approximately 48 percent. The DOE says that
those bills could be reduced by up to 25 percent
by taking steps to efficiently manage those
systems. Make these minor repairs for major
savings this winter:
Cover drafty windows. Use a heavy-duty, clear
plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film
to the inside of window frames during the cold
winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed
tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
Adjust the temperature. When families are home
and awake, set the thermostat as low as is comfortable. When asleep or out of the house, turn
the thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight
hours and save around 10 percent a year on
heating and cooling bills.
Find and seal leaks. Seal the air leaks around
utility cut-throughs for pipes (“plumbing
penetrations”), gaps around chimneys and

recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished
spaces behind cupboards and closets. Add caulk or
weather stripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors
and windows.
Maintain heating systems. Schedule a service for the
heating system. Find out what maintenance is required
to keep the heating system operating eff