Sealing The House Against Winter’s Chill

By Kendra Bobowick

If it leaks, seal it. If it is drafty, tighten it up, and if it is dirty, clean it, say home improvement professionals as the Northeast begins to feel the belated chill of winter. From boilers to chimneys, those with experience in repairs and improvements have tricks and tips tucked away next to the wrenches in their toolboxes for combating the cold.

Starting in the basement is Leon Demers with J.D. Heating LLC who stressed maintenance at the top of his checklist.

“One of the big things people forget is air filters,” he said. “Most of my calls for insufficient heat are caused by the air filters on the furnace.” Each house is different, he explained, and could require new filters monthly to biannually. Check the filters every three months. “It’s a good rule of thumb,” he said.

Bitter cold days can also deceive homeowners into thinking something has gone wrong with a heating system.

“Most houses are designed for zero degrees,” said Mr Demers. “If [the temperature] is below freezing and there is a wind chill, the furnace is working a lot harder; the colder it gets the harder the furnace runs.” The furnace needs to catch up to the intense cold. A furnace also requires its regular TLC.

Mr Demers advises cleaning the furnace annually. “You don’t want to end up with no heat on a Sunday afternoon,” he said. Without a service contract a resident may not be able to find a repairman until Monday, he said.

Some homes with thermostats both upstairs and down may pose another pitfall residents may not realize. When moving upstairs to bed someone might turn down the thermostat for the downstairs rooms. Mr Demers explains, “Don’t turn the first floor heat down too low on really cold nights. If [the thermostat] is at 50 or 60 degrees all night and then turned up in the morning you may wonder why it’s not catching up.” A 65-degree setting is a good compromise, “But don’t expect it to heat instantly,” he said.

Posing another dilemma is the argument that leaving heat set at 65 uses more oil, for example. Mr Demers disagrees.

“I don’t see the difference between the heat kicking on a couple of times a night or running for a half hour straight in the morning,” he said.

No heat? Check the switches.

A red switch often at the top of basement staircases is a likely culprit for lack of heat.

“People get to the top of the stairs and go for the light switch and accidentally the one for the boiler or furnace is turned off,” said Mr Demers, who speaks from experience.

Check the thermostat, also.

“If the thermostat isn’t above room temperature, obviously you wouldn’t be getting any heat,” he said.

Reset buttons often on oil-fired units should only be hit once.

“If you don’t get heat after that once, hitting it multiple times won’t fix it — you’re just throwing fuel into a chamber that’s not firing,” he said.

Tips and tricks to keeping warm and saving funds on heating costs also come from resident Pat Conlan of P.G. Conlan, a plumber and consultant.

Stopping a draft from entering through a garage, for example, could cost as little as $5 and save on heating bills.

Mr Conlan explained, “Use an 8 by 10 tarp and secure it to the outside. That will stop a draft.” He recommends the inexpensive remedy for garage doors and sliders. He also suggests covering the outside of any air conditioners where the cold might blow inside.

To prevent damage to hoses and spigots, remove the hose, bring it inside, and drain the spigot.

“There is a [water] shut-off valve in the house so you can turn that off and empty the spigot,” he said. Another convenient money-saver is clear plastic intended to cover windows and seal in heat. Mr Conlan has a list of suggestions for conserving heating fuel and energy costs.

Avoid the warm water cycle on the washing machine.

“You don’t have to use oil if you do a cold wash,” he said. Switch older light bulbs for the energy-saving variety. Replace old mercury thermostats to ensure accuracy.

“An ounce of preventative maintenance is worth a pound of cure,” he explained. Continuing with his list he advised homeowners to have the chimneys (and flues) cleaned. Also, insulate both the attic and water heaters for savings, he said. One last tip avoids overusing the dryer. He suggests hanging clothes in the boiler room to dry.

Homes empty for the winter also need specific care. Mr Conlan provides suggestions for winterizing residential properties.

On his checklist are the following: all water lines and appliances drained, traps filled with nontoxic antifreeze, water heaters and pumps drained and disconnected, and additional maintenance. The precautions protect against conditions including extremely low temperatures, power outages, and fuel outages.

Energy Saving Tips from United Illuminating include some practical advice. According to an Online list at uinet.com, the company recommendations including the following: Close drapes to provide additional insulation, use ceiling fans to circulate heat, check furnace function and filters, set water heater at approximately 120 degrees, seal and caulk windows and doors, set the refrigerator between 34 and 37 degrees and the freezer at 5 degrees, clean dryer filters and exhaust vents, install (light) dimmers and motion sensors where possible.