Manage Energy Efficiency

Concerned about your home's energy efficiency? These few inexpensive steps can make a difference.

Check for gaps in the heating ducts. There often are gaps at the joints where significant amounts of hot air can be lost. Taping the joint with duct tape is seldom a permanent solution, because the tape dries out and loosens. A more permanent repair is applying silicone caulk (which costs about $6 per cartridge) and is sold at most home centers. Special duct sealing caulks are available at heating supply dealers and home centers.

Close dampers when fire places are not in use. An open damper in an unused fireplace is literally sucking heat from the house and sending it up the chimney. Some homeowners find it effective to seal the openings of fireplaces that aren't used during the winter.