By Jana
Ward
The kids are
back to school and high school football is underway. For south
Texas, that means fall is just around the corner. Autumn brings
falling and blowing leaves, temperature swings, and the knowledge
that a norther could come at any time.
Preventative maintenance for your home now will help keep you
and your family cozy during those chilly days and nights ahead and
will help protect your investment in your home. Here are some things
you should be working on as the days get shorter:
Check roof insulation
How much roof insulation do you have? Heat rises, so your
home's most likely area to release heat is the roof. The most
efficient way to stop that loss is by ceiling and roof insulation
with an R-value of approximately 40. The R-value is the ability of
any material to resist the passage of heat. For example, a
fiberglass bat or blanket 9 1/2 to 10 inches thick has an R-value of
approximately 30. You can raise that number to 38 simply by adding
two or three more inches of fiberglass. Upgrading your insulation
will pay off even more next summer by helping to keep the cool in
and the heat out of your house.
Fill the gaps
Heated air also can escape from gaps that develop where
building materials meet. Look for signs where building materials
have pulled apart and caulk or seal the gaps. Check areas where
exterior siding meets windows and doors, along the roof and
foundation lines, around chimneys and where pipes protrude through
walls or roofs.
Inspect heating system
Consider replacing an older or inefficient heating unit with
a gas or oil furnace or a heat pump with a high efficiency rating.
If you currently have an efficient system, inspect and clean it now.
Be sure that your filters are clean and remember to change them
monthly. If you have a gas furnace, call CPS to light it for
you at no charge through the end of September.
Grab a sweater
Keep your thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit once the air
conditioner is off and the furnace is on. Consider replacing an
existing thermostat with a programmable model that can turn down the
heat while you sleep or when you are not at home.
Check windows
Be sure you have good storm windows and doors. If you don't,
this should be a high priority for older fixtures. Also, look for
any cracks around glass, sashes and window frames that could be
leaking air. Apply adhesive foam weather strips to top and bottom
window rails or nail felt weather stripping where window sashes and
frames make contact. If you live in a home built in the last decade,
you are likely to have double or triple-paned windows and
low-emissivity (Low-E) glass. Both these products increase your
energy efficiency and can lower your energy bills.
Clean gutters and downspouts
Even though gutters and downspouts don't affect your energy
bills directly, they should be checked twice a year. Gutters and
downspouts are traps for falling leaves and pine needles, and
squirrels can use them as pantries for storing winter food. Be sure
to clean gutters thoroughly, and pay special attention to elbows and
bends in the downspouts. Keep hangers fastened securely. Plug any
holes and cracks. Repaint rusting components inside and out with
rustproof paint.
Most of these tips are from The Complete Guide to Four
Season Home Maintenance by Dave Herberle and Richard M.
Scutella. Look for this helpful book in your local bookstores.
Routine maintenance is important and well worth your time and
effort to keep energy bills low, protect your investment, keep your
family safe and protect the materials that your house is built from
so they last a long time.
