Marilyn Ridge

Fall Fix-ups

1. Beef Up Insulation in an Unfinished Attic
WHY NOW:
Baby, it’s cold outside—or it will be soon. “So pop your head up in the attic and check insulation levels,” says Mike Rogers of GreenHomes America, which specializes in energy-efficient improvements. In addition to sealing gaps in the attic floor and framing, Rogers recommends upping insulation levels to R-49 or even as high as R-60 for most areas of the country.

HOW TO DO IT:
If insulation is level with or below the ceiling joists, add loose fiberglass or cellulose—even over existing batts—using a rented blower. Make sure the material is well distributed, with no low spots. “Even a small gap greatly undermines performance,” Rogers says.

THE PAYOFF:
Up to 10 percent savings on your utility bills.

2. Button Up Interior Doors to the Basement and Garage
WHY NOW:
It’s not just the front and back doors that you need to worry about. Cold air can also enter the house through gaps around any door leading to an uninsulated space, such as a garage or basement.

HOW TO DO IT:
Weatherstrip the top and sides, and add an inexpensive door sweep to the bottom. TOH general contractor Tom Silva recommends a wood sweep that you can stain or paint to match your door and that has an attached nylon brush to follow the contours of irregular flooring or carpeting. Sweeps usually need to be cut to size, so be sure to measure the width of the door first. To insulate the top and lock-side jambs, use peel-and-stick high-density foam tape or nail-on vinyl gaskets. For the hinge-side jamb, a premium adhesive-backed strip made of EDPM rubber will retain its shape after years of use.

THE PAYOFF:
For $20 and 30 minutes of your time, reduce cold air infiltration by as much as 11 percent.

3. Seal Exhaust Vents
WHY NOW:
Exterior vents, particularly those for a clothes dryer or a whole-house fan, allow heated air to seep out of your house, while letting cold outside air in.

HOW TO DO IT:
Swap your dryer’s louvered or metal flapper-style vent for a Dryer Vent Seal (About $20; Battic Door), which consists of an elbow pipe topped with a plastic cap and shuttle. When the dryer is in use, the floating shuttle beneath the hood rises to let warm air, lint, and moisture escape. When not in use, the shuttle drops down to seal the hole and prevent drafts.

THE PAYOFF:
Vent sealing can prevent 4 percent of your home’s heated air from escaping.

Read more at www.thisoldhouse.com.
12 Easy DIY Fall Fix-Ups
By: Laura Fisher Kaiser, This Old House magazine

Posted Wed Dec 07, 2011 at 03:04PM by Jessica Grimes