Leaky house can cost you a bundle
A leaky house costs you money. When warm air goes out, cold air comes in and your heating bill goes up.
"People underestimate how much air escapes just through cracks throughout the house," says Celia Kupershmid Lehrman, deputy home editor at Consumer Reports.
"Attics in particular are filled with holes form recess lightning, wiring, chimney chases. You're also going to have gaps around plumbing pipes, around window dorms and frames."
Don't forget electrical outlets and switches. You can get foam gaskets that go behind them. That's especially important to do on exterior walls.
Something that's often overlooked are air ducts that run through crawl spaces. Seal the leaks, add insulation if needed and you can really save a bundle.
"It's not that expensive to do," Kupershmid Lehrman says. "It's a few hundred dollars to get your ductwork insulated and it will make you more comfortable and you will also see that money back pretty quickly."
For more information
Consumer Reports: Save on Heating and Cooling
"People underestimate how much air escapes just through cracks throughout the house," says Celia Kupershmid Lehrman, deputy home editor at Consumer Reports.
"Attics in particular are filled with holes form recess lightning, wiring, chimney chases. You're also going to have gaps around plumbing pipes, around window dorms and frames."
Don't forget electrical outlets and switches. You can get foam gaskets that go behind them. That's especially important to do on exterior walls.
Something that's often overlooked are air ducts that run through crawl spaces. Seal the leaks, add insulation if needed and you can really save a bundle.
"It's not that expensive to do," Kupershmid Lehrman says. "It's a few hundred dollars to get your ductwork insulated and it will make you more comfortable and you will also see that money back pretty quickly."
For more information
Consumer Reports: Save on Heating and Cooling