There are dozens of ways to save energy in your home during winter months. Most importantly, set the thermostat to 68 degrees and walk away from it. Don’t keep increasing or decreasing the temperature setting and that will help you keep the heating bill under control. Make sure you seal your windows and doors. Also close off any rooms you don’t use unless they have plumbing because you don’t want your pipes to freeze.
Home inspector Charles Buell from Seattle, Washington confesses his stove pipe was acting like a chimney when he hadn’t sealed it off properly.
When I pulled off the roof cap and looked down the pipe I was surprised to see—nothing! No insulation in the pipe. This pipe had been acting like a chimney since the kitchen was remodeled. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!
It is by-passes like this that can amount to higher energy costs and work against the huge amounts of insulation that had been added to the attic space. It is really no different than leaving the damper open on your fireplace. The dust in the screen of the old cap is testament to how it has been cleaning the air as I attempted to heat up all outdoors.
Ouch! Interestingly even if you have lived in your home for 10 years, you might consider getting an energy inspection. You never know what might be found!
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