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As fall wanes and winter approaches it's time to heat up the house, but not without energy efficient techniques.
It's also time to give your home the once over to make sure it's ready to do battle with winter winds, rain, sleet and snow to protect you from the elements.
"Put your home on an energy diet to benefit your pocketbook and the planet," says David M. Nemtzow, president of the Washington, D.C. -based Alliance to Save Energy.
Here's how to keep warm on a budget.
Get a professional tune up for the furnace. Clean or replace air filters once a month to help your unit run as efficiently as possible.
If you are replacing heating or air conditioning systems, major appliances, electronics, or windows, look for the Energy Star label to cut energy consumption by as much at 30 percent.
Consider a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature up when you need it and down when you don't.
Make sure your attic and or ceiling are well insulated, seal joints in attic air ducts and around windows, doors, electrical outlets and other openings that can admit cold air.
Consider installing energy-efficient, double-paned windows with low-emmissivity coatings to keep out the chill and the noise.
Go natural. Allow the sun to help heat your home by keeping blinds of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night.
Take the Home Energy Checkup to troubleshoot for energy waste and calculate efficiencies gained through improvements.
Other home items require a close-up inspection to determine if need to make repairs or upgrades before the winter sets in.
"Taking the time to thoroughly inspect your home will not only help your home become energy efficient, it will also make your home a safer place to live," said Steve Wadlington, vice president of Memphis-based AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service.
Check chimneys for lose, deteriorated, or missing mortar. A chimney in too much disrepair is inefficient and presents a fire hazard.
Clean gutters, strainers and down spots for debris and to look for rust, breaks in the seams or other signs of deterioration.
Inspect for evidence of water penetration in the attic and ceilings after wet weather or snowfall. Replace moist insulation.
Examine caulking for deterioration around doors, windows, joints between wood and masonry. re-caulk were needed, by first removing the old caulk, cleaning the surfaces and applying new caulk.
Likewise, replace worn weather-stripping around exterior doors to minimize air filtration.
Replace broken or cracked-glass and damaged or missing window screens.
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