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Fall and Winter Project Ideas
Fall/Winter Ideas: Prepare for the Holiday season now.
 With fuel costs at an all-time high, many Americans are facing the
tough choice of turning down their thermostats and enduring a little
chill rather than paying more to keep their homes toasty. Don't unfurl
the stadium blankets just yet, though. You may be able to keep your
home cozy without breaking the bank by performing a few basic upgrades
around the house.
Homeowners can save a lot of money
this winter just by taking steps to keep the
warm air in and the cold air out. Drafty
windows and doors, for example, can
increase a homeowner's heating costs by as much as 20 percent. Check each of your windows and doors at least once a year to locate energy-sapping drafts. Once located, drafts can be minimized with some basic do-it-yourself skills.
It's a good idea to access the state of the exterior and find what truly needs to be done before thinking of a project that's just fun to get your hands into. Some things just need to be done and it's a good idea to get those out of the way while you have the time and while the weather is cooperating.
Here are some ideas to start you off:
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| Caulking Cord — The simplest and most common solution is using caulking cord to seal windows from the outside. Caulking cord is available at most home improvement stores. Just unroll the cord and use your fingers to press the cord into the creases between the sash and the window casing. |
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Tip: Warm caulking cord slightly with your hands to make it more pliable and ease installation. |
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| Exterior Sheeting — Exterior plastic sheeting is another option for sealing windows. While this option is not as aesthetically pleasing, plastic sheeting is very effective at insulating windows and DIY kits are widely available. |
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Tip: If you're uncomfortable on ladders, you should consider hiring a pro to install sheeting. |
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| Hidden Drafts — Around doors, check the weather stripping on the inside of the door frame to ensure that it is still providing a tight seal. If you see gaps, or if the weather stripping is stiff, it's time for replacement, but this job is a little more difficult. Don't forget the spaces around exterior electrical outlets and faucets. Both caulking cord and canned foam insulation work well for sealing these spaces. |
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Tip: An easy way to make homes instantly toastier is to install roll-in insulation between the basement and the first floor. |
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| Inspect Heating Systems - Finally, have your home heating system serviced regularly. If you're not having your furnace cleaned and your filters changed annually, you're still losing money no matter what else you do to keep your home warm this winter. |
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Tip: Have your heating system serviced annually by a qualified HVAC contractor. |
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| Sealing wall outlets and switches - Outlets and switches on walls are another source of heat loss. Some tests indicate that up to 20 percent of the total air leakage heat losses in existing houses can occur through the outlets. If there is a gap, use commercially available, inexpensive gaskets between the plate and wall. Disconnect the power to any outlets you are working on. Electrical codes forbid placing any object inside the boxes, so all sealing must be external. |
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Tip: Child “safety plugs” can also be placed into unused outlets to stop air flow through the outlet holes - and also makes your home safe. |
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| Some projects require special talent that can take you a while to get up to speed on. As the pros in home improvement, HandyPro can often do your project or the tough parts of your project in a fraction of the time that you can. This can save you frustration, banged fingers and the costs of specialized tools. |
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HandyPro Handyman Services
Handyman services are easy to find in the phonebook, but convenience often forsakes more important things such as trust, cost, and quality of craftsmanship. In today’s busy world, it is difficult to train oneself in handyman services because there is simply too much to learn about home repair. Before hiring though, it is best to ask for references from friends or family or to request private consultations before contracting handyman services for your home. We are happy to provide references upon request.
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