During this time of economic uncertainty, many people are making attempts to save money. Conserving energy is a simple way to improve financial savings. Energy-saving essentials can help to cut costs during the winter months for savings all year long.

The average family needs to heat a home for six months out of the year, which can get rather expensive. Unknowingly, about 30 percent of a home’s heat escapes through small cracks and holes that are not always easily detected. This can translate into a 50 – 75 percent increase in the cost of fuel bills as a result of air infiltration around gaps in doors and windows. Thus, proper home weatherization measures can produce significant cost savings on your home heating bill.

Homeowners can easily identify troubled air infiltration areas around the home. The first step to keeping the heat inside the home is to locate all the areas where heat is escaping such as around windows, doors and through fireplaces.

1. Wet a finger and move it around likely areas to feel for drafts. You will feel a breeze or coolness on the wet finger.
2. Have a person stand outside after dark and shine a strong flashlight around the edges of doors and windows. With the lights turned off inside the house, take note of where the light is visibly shining through to pinpoint areas where cold air is entering the home.
3. Try to slide a sheet of thin cardboard under a door when it is closed. If the cardboard slides under, the gap is large enough for cold air to enter and heat to escape.
4. Move around areas near windows and doors with a burning stick of incense and see if the smoke is being blown by incoming air or escaping through cracks.

Making your home more energy efficient will not only increase your home’s comfort, it will also save a lot of money. As costs continue to rise, you will be sure the money you use to heat your home isn’t blowing right out the window.