It's no secret that home heating costs have been steadily on the rise for some time and are expected to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. There are several options, however, that you can take today to somewhat lessen the blow of these spiraling costs. One of the least expensive yet most beneficial fixes is to save money on heating bills with DIY sash window insulation. It's really quite easy.
Actually replacing of your sash windows is expensive and probably way too difficult for the average do-it-yourself person to handle. It's probably not the best idea anyway, unless your existing windows are totally shot and beyond repair. Older wood framed windows are almost always worth saving, if possible, rather than being replaced with new vinyl facsimiles. They may just need to be refurbished to be put back into shape.
If you were to take a look at your home with the aid of an infrared camera you would most likely be astounded by the amount of heat energy being lost during cold weather. In many cases this is money being literally thrown out the window. This is neither good for your nor the environment.
Some of the problems responsible for this waste of energy can be poorly sealed basements allowing cold and damp to enter, attics with little or no insulation, poorly fitting doors, open fireplaces and, usually the worst, leaky windows. If your house has older sash windows, chances are they are quite a bit less efficient than when they were installed and this, quite frankly, wasn't that great to begin with. This can, however, be fixed rather easily.
The first remedy that should be affected is to pull off the window trim and put some non-expanding type foam in the gap that's found between the frame and the wall. If the trim is not easily removed the best alternative is to use caulk on both the inside and outside edges of the trim. Rope caulk is a good option for renters who don't want to leave permanent changes behind when they move.
The next step should be the application of some form of weather stripping that can be affixed to the window frames by nailing. If nailing isn't advisable, as in the instance of metal or vinyl windows, self-adhesive stripping can be substituted, although this is not as long-lasting of a solution in most cases.
If the window panes have become loose over the years they should be resealed. All these steps should actually help your house become quieter and less dusty and, bottom line, you should definitely save money on heating bills with DIY sash window insulation properly put in place.
If you need to reduce your energy costs, sash window draught proofing is a great way to start. When you arrange for sash window refurbishment, you stop outside air from entering and temperature controlled air from leaving your home.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
Tags:
builders,
Carpentry,
construction,
decorators,
diy,
draught proofing,
Environment,
home,
Home Improvement,
house,
Insulation,
joinery,
property,
wooden windows
February 04 2012 | Carpentry | No Comments »
Have you decided that you would like an air purifier for your home? You may think it is a good concept if the air in your home is 'unclean' in any way or even if it is damp and fausty. There are many reasons why a home and its inhabitants can benefit from an air purifier especially if you live on a busy road or near a factory. Too many hairy pets can also become a cause of allergies which can get cleared up by the use of an air purifier.
If you do choose to get one, there are several different kinds to choose from and various cost levels. You can also shop on or off line. In fact, the price of these devices is frequently lower on line because the vendor does not have the overheads of a bricks and mortar shop front, although you will have to keep in mind to add postage and package and any local taxes that may be appropriate. It is still usually cheaper to purchase on line rather than in the shopping mall.
However, both ways of shopping have their advantages and disadvantages, so we will take a closer look at these next. Really what you need to do is compare both methods of shopping and see which is best for you. The way that I do that is by going on line and typing something like 'air purifiers for sale' into a search engine.
The results that come up will be many, almost certainly well over 100,000, so choose a dozen or so and do some research. Amazon is usually a decent place to read users' reviews. Make notes on brand names, prices, features and capabilities. Then take these notes to the Mall and go searching for air purifiers.
With your newly found knowledge of these devices, you can question sales personnel and compare prices. Make more notes and do some comparisons.
Do not forget to add postage and packing and local taxes to the on line prices. Another thing that you should take into account is the warranty. What happens if the purifier breaks down? Will you have to send it hundreds of miles away to be repaired? Who will pay for that?
It is always easier to claim on a warranty if it can be done locally. However, what are the chances of it breaking down anyway? It depends on the length of the guarantee really.
Some of the features that you should come across while researching your prospective air purifier are whether it uses an air filter or not, whether it can cool air or not and whether it can dehumidify or not. These three features are handy for different conditions, but there is no purpose paying for something that you will never use - the dehumidifier for example.
Some people prefer a machine that does not require an air filter or which has a washable filter, but this is usually because of laziness and false economy. There are numerous different sorts of filters for different pollutants so they are more adaptable and ultimately far better.
Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with central air conditioner prices. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
Tags:
air conditioning,
air purifier,
allergies,
appliances,
disease,
Environment,
happiness,
health,
Home Improvement,
other,
pets,
pollution,
Product Reviews
November 21 2011 | Home Improvement | 1 Comment »