Clean eavestroughs and downspouts. Preventing water damage is essential to keeping your home’s foundation solid. One of the biggest culpritsincausingwaterdamageisfaultyeavestroughsanddownspouts.
Theeavestroughsonmanyhomescanbecomecloggedwithleavesand
otherdebris,preventingrainwaterandmeltingsnowfromdrainingaway
fromyourhouse.Cleaningyoureavesinthefallandspringwillkeepthe rainandwinterrunofffromspillingovertheedgeofthetroughontothe ground,whereabuildupofmoisturecanseepintothebasement.Simply
hopuponasteadyladderandscoopanydebrisintoacompostbag.
BOTTOM LINE: This two-hour task will cost you 30 cents in bags but can save you tens of thousands of dollars by keeping your foundationfromcracking.
Inspectwaterpipesthroughoutthehouseforleaks. Asmalldrip canquicklyturnintoamajorleakcausingsignificantdamage.Leakscan causemoisturebuildup,leadingtomould—whichisveryexpensiveto
get rid of. Check your water pipes and drainpipes for drips and other signs of leakage at least once a year. Look under every sink, inspect shutoff valves and look at the U-joint of each drain. Running hot and coldwaterwheninspectingeachpipehelpstoidentifyleaksinshutoff
valvesofsinks,toiletsandaroundtheU-jointsofdrains.Closelymonitor ceilingsofeachroomlocatedbeneathbathroomsforwaterdamage.
BOTTOM LINE: Checking pipes is free. A small leak is cheaper to repair(aplumbermaychargeafewhundreddollars)thanalarger
problemcausingmouldandcostingthousands.
Clean or replace furnace and air-conditioning filters. Changing your furnace or air-conditioner filter monthly during the heating and cooling seasons will keep your home’s air clean, your house dust free and your energy costs low. Routinely changing filters means less vacuumingand cleaning,improves yourhealth and extendsthe life of yourfurnacebyreducingstrainonthesystem.
BOTTOM LINE: A basic paper filter costs $3 while a
highperformance filter runs $35, a small price to pay to save hundredsinimprovedenergyefficiency.
Check your basement for moisture. You need to know if your basement is leaking. Moisture in the basement can cause mould and considerable structural damage to your home. Do a visual inspection every fall, looking inside for damp areas on walls, mould growth or smells, mineral stains on exposed concrete, cracks in concrete and discoloured or warped vinyl flooring. If you have an older home, it mightbehelpfultotakeapictureofyourbasementwallseachfallto
comparefor newstains andother problems. Checkoutside for ground slopingtowardyourhomeandfordamagedorcloggedeavestroughs.If
yoususpectmoisture,hireacontractorforafewhundreddollarstotest yourbasementusingamoisturemeter.Besureyouhireaprofessional
andbemindfulofpossibleconflictsofinterestifthecontractorquotes youapriceforfixingtheproblem.
BOTTOM LINE: Repairing a small moisture problem in your
basementbeforeitbecomesabigonecouldsaveyoufromgetting
soaked. If you notice moisture issues, hire a contractor for a few hundreddollarstosuggestasolution.
Get your heating, ventilation, air conditioning and fireplace
professionally inspected. Natural Resources Canada recommends homeowners get yearly inspections from a heating, ventilating and air conditioning(HVAC)specialisttocheckheatingandcoolingsystems.A
gasfurnaceshouldbeservicedonceayeartoinspectexhaustpiping,to testtheheatexchangerandtoinspectthesafetycontrolsandfaninthe unit.
BOTTOM LINE: Professional HVAC inspections cost about $150,
while the cost of doing nothing could add up to a few thousand dollars in more extensive repairs. An inefficient furnace will cost youinhigherheatingbills;acarbonmonoxideleakcouldcostyou
alovedone.
Replacedamaged,crackedorfrayedelectricalcordsthroughout
your home. Walk around your home once a year and inspect all extensioncordsandelectricalcords.Lookforcracksinouterinsulation, especially near the plugs, and feel the cord to see if the insulation is gettingbrittle.Keepacloseeyeonheavilyusedextensioncords,suchas onyourvacuumcleaner.Whenbuyingreplacementappliancecords,be
surethenewcordisratedforawattageequaltoorhigherthanthecord itreplaces.Iftheappliancehasaremovablecord,itmaybepossibleto findareplacementcordforunder$15.Ifthedamagedcordiswiredinto an inexpensive small appliance, consult a small appliance repair professionaltoseeifareplacementcordcansavetheunitforlessthan replacementcost.
BOTTOMLINE:Replacingwornelectricalandextensioncordscosts
$5 to $15 and can prevent a devastating fire that costs you thousandsindamages.
Cleardebrisfromairconditionercoolantcoils. Itcostsnothingto remove dirt and garden debris from the coils of your air-conditioning unit. Debris clogging your air conditioner’s coils makes the unit work harder,costingyouinincreasedenergyconsumption.
BOTTOMLINE:Clearingleavesanddirtfromyourairconditioneris
freeandcancutyourenergycostsbyupto5%.
CHAPTER6
Energy
Savingmoneyonenergyiseasierthanyouthink.Ourcontinualuseof
heating and cooling, electricity and water present numerous
opportunitiestosavemoneyinourhomeswithjusttheflickofaswitch.
StatisticsCanadareportsthatin2007theaverageCanadianfamilyspent $2,203onwaterandenergyalone.Bysimplyturningoffunusedlights
andturningdowntheheatbyjustabit,manyhomescouldsaveatleast
5%ontheirenergycosts,resultinginanadditional$100ormoreayear.
Spending money on more efficient electronic devices and appliances canalsosaveyoubigenergybucksoverthelongterm.Ifyou’reinthe
marketforawashingmachineoraTV,considerbuyingproductswith
certificationlabelslikeENERGYSTARtomaximizesavings.
Spendingevenbiggermoneyonstructuralchangesmaypayoffinthe
end.Ifyouareinapositiontorenovateyourhomeorarelookingfor
ways to improve your energy efficiency, find out about federal and provincial programs that help Canadian families make these changes.
One such program is the Canadian government’s ecoENERGY Retrofit grantprogram;for$150acertifiedenergyadviservisitsyourhomeand
measures your energy consumption and efficiency. Based on these
measurements,theadviserprovideswrittenrecommendationsforwhat
youcanspecificallydotodecreaseyourenergycosts.Aftermeetingwith an energy adviser in my own home, I found ways to save money by sealingtheatticandinsulatingpipesandIevenqualifiedfor$1,600in energyrebatesbyreplacingmyoldoilfurnacewithanENERGYSTAR
electricheatingsystem.
CheckouttheecoACTIONwebsite(ecoaction.gc.ca)tofindanenergy
adviserandtolearnhowtoqualifyforenergyrebatesinyourprovince.
Youmaybesurprisedbyhowmakingsmall,inexpensivechangestoyour
homecanadduptobigdollarssaved.
HeatingandCooling
Heatingandcoolingyourhomeaccountsforalmosthalfofyourenergy
bill, making it the single largest energy expense for most Canadians.
Whetheryourentorown,youcantakeinexpensivestepstoreduceyour
heating and cooling bills and make your home
more energy efficient.
Here are some tips for adding some cool cash to your wallet while keepingyourselfseasonablycomfortable.
Heating
Turndowntheheat. Foreverydegreeyousetyourthermostatlower, yousaveupto5%onyourannualheatingcosts.Asingledegreeofless
heat can translate into hundreds saved a year. If you want to be very energy efficient, try to get down to a setting of 18°C—but start by movingdownonedegreeatatime.Takingawarmwoollysweaterfrom
yourwardrobeorsnugglingintobedunderanextrablanketisfreeand
allowsyoutokeepyourroomtemperaturelower.
BOTTOMLINE:Bundlingupandturningdownthethermostatcan
save you 5% on your heating bill over the year. For the average Canadianfamilythiscanaddupto$100eachyear.
Install a programmable thermostat. Installing a programmable thermostat to automatically turn down the heat at night and when you’reawaycansaveyouhundredsayear.Aprogrammablethermostat
costs as little as $30 at most hardware stores. Check your furnace manual to see which thermostats are compatible with your heating system.Ifyou’renotreadytospendthemoneyonanewprogrammable
thermostat, then try setting your thermostat to 16°C before you go to bedatnightandagainbeforeleavingthehousefortheday.Onemonth’s worth of diligent monitoring should just about pay for the new thermostat.
BOTTOMLINE:Aprogrammablethermostathasaone-timecostof
$30andcansaveyouupto10%onyourenergybill.
Replaceyourfurnacewithahigh-efficiencysystem. Gotanoldoil, electric or gas furnace burning through your energy dollars? Consider
replacingyouroldheatingsystemwithanewENERGYSTARfurnace.If
you qualify under the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY Retrofit
grantprogram,youcouldseeuptoa$1,600rebate.Contactacertified
energyadviserbeforeoverhaulingyourheatingsystemthough,tofind
outifyouqualifyandtoseeiftheexpenseisworththesavings.
BOTTOMLINE:Anewfurnacecouldsetyouback$5,000butgain
you $1,600 in federal rebates—plus hundreds in energy savings eachyear.
Shutventsinunusedrooms. Noteveryroominyourhomeneedsto be kept piping warm. By shutting heating vents in empty or less frequented rooms, you can save money by not heating them. Closing heatingventsinthewinterisfreeandcansaveyouupto5%inheating costs. Just be sure to keep an eye open for condensation forming on windowsincoolerrooms,asthiscouldcausemould.
BOTTOMLINE:Reducingtheheatedareaofyourhomecouldsave
you5%onyourheatingbill.
Cooling
Turn up the temperature. Consider embracing summer by turning yourairconditioneronetotwodegreeswarmerandwatchyourenergy
savingsaddup.Everydegreewarmeryousetyourairconditionerequals
upto5%inenergysavings.
BOTTOMLINE:Beingonedegreewarmercansaveyouupto5%on
your energy bill, which on an average electricity bill of $85 a monthsavesupto$50ayear.
Useafaninsteadofanairconditioner. Considerrunningafanto circulate cooling air flow throughout your home in the summer. Not usingacentralairconditionerorawindow-mountedunitcancutyour
coolingbillbyupto90%.Whilefloorfanscanbegreatforcoolinga
smallspace,ceilingfansarethemosteffectiveformovingairinalarger room.Ifyourhomeisblazinghot,trysleepinginthebasementforfree tocoolyourcosts.
BOTTOM LINE: Passing on an air conditioner altogether and
runningafancansaveupto90%onyourcoolingcosts.
Installaprogrammablethermostat. Runninganairconditioneron fullwhenthehouseisemptyalldayisaphenomenalwasteofmoney.
Installaprogrammablethermostatforabout$30tosaveupto20%on
yourcoolingcosts.Setthetemperatureto24°Corhighertomaximize
savings while at home and set the temperate from 5 to 10 degrees warmerforwhenyou’reaway.
BOTTOMLINE:Installaprogrammablethermostattosaveyouup
to20%onyourcoolingcosts.
Install your air conditioner in the shade. If you are installing a central air conditioner outdoors, try to situate it on the north side of your house in the shade. A shaded air conditioner stays cooler and operatesmoreefficiently,savingyou5%inenergycosts.
BOTTOM LINE: An air conditioner located in the shade could
decrease your energy bill by 5%, and it costs you zero dollars to installitonthenorthsideofyourhome.
Plantatree. Plantingtreesonthesouthsideofyourhomecanhelp reducesummercoolingcosts.Deciduoustrees,whichlosetheirleavesin thefall,provideampleshadeinthesummer,keepingyourhomecooler
and letting more warming light through in the winter. Planting trees aroundyourhomecanhavetheaddedbonusofincreasingyourproperty
value.
BOTTOMLINE:Thepriceofasingledeciduoustreecanstartat$50
and can pay for itself in energy savings and increased property value.
AirLeaks
Air leaks caused by poor insulation, drafty windows or poorly sealed doorscancontributetoanunhealthyandcoldhomeenvironment.There
are ways to increase the environmental comfort of your home while increasing your energy savings. You may even qualify for an energy
rebate with the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY Retrofit grant
programbyfollowingthesetips.
Insulation
Addmoreinsulationtoyourattic. Addinginsulationtotheatticof an older home can keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.Goingfrom8inchesoffibreglassinsulationto16inchescould
also mean you qualify for a $300 rebate from the Government of Canada’secoENERGYprogram.
BOTTOMLINE:Awell-insulatedatticcansaveyou10%to15%in
energycosts.
Maketheattichatchairtight. Pickupsomeweatherstrippinganda pieceoffoamboardinsulationatthehardwarestoretogetstartedon
thisDIYfix.Usetheweatherstrippingtosealallfouredgesandthencut the foam board to size and attach to the back with adhesive, making suretheattichatchstillopenseasily.
BOTTOM LINE: The whole job will take you 15 minutes, cost you $20andsaveyouupto5%inenergycosts.
Sealelectricaloutlets. Electricaloutletscanbeasizablesourceofair leaks in your home. Outlets on exterior walls are the biggest leaky culprits, costing you 2% to 5% in energy loss. Increase your energy efficiency by removing the outlet covers (turn off the electricity flow first) and insulating all electrical outlets with a CSA-approved foam gasket.Gasketscost20centseachbutsaveyouupto5%inenergycosts.
Formaximumsavings,sealunusedoutletswithchildproofplasticplugs.
BOTTOM LINE: The total bill for insulating your electrical outlets withfoamgasketsandchildproofplugsisunder$20andcansave
you5%inenergycosts.
Close seldom used fireplaces. Fireplace dampers rarely fit snugly and cost you in heat loss. If you don’t use your fireplace regularly, consider installing a removable plywood cover that can be insulated, weatherstrippedandsealedwithagasket.Spending$50toproperlyseal
your fireplace creates a more comfortable living area and can save on
heatingcosts.Justbesuretoremovetheinsulating
coverwhenit’stime tobuildafire!
BOTTOMLINE:Insulateandsealyourrarelyusedfireplacefor$50
andsaveupto30%onyourenergybill.
Sealcracksandcreviceswithpolyurethanefoam. Aspraycanof
expandable polyurethane foam can fill most small cracks and crevices throughoutyourhome.Usefoamaroundanunfinishedbasementtoplug
cold, drafty areas and to insulate cable boxes and cracks around the exterior of your home. Some homes have an exterior faucet that can benefitfrominsulation.Insulatingtheseseeminglysmallopenspacescan saveyou5%onyourenergybills.Besuretokeepthefoamawayfrom
heatedareasandopenflameslikeyourfurnaceandchimney.
BOTTOM LINE: A can of expandable polyurethane foam costs $8
andcouldloweryourenergycostsby5%.
WindowsandDoors
Weatherstrip and caulk windows and doors. Air leaks around windowsanddoorscansignificantlyincreaseyourheatingandcooling
costs.Weatherstrippingandsiliconecaulkingareaninexpensivewayof
stopping drafts from entering your home. Check annually and replace weatherstripping as needed. Use silicone to seal cracks around the outsideofalldoorandwindowframes.
BOTTOM LINE: A tube of caulking costs $5 and weatherstripping canrun$5to$10perwindowordoor.Energysavingscanaddup
to10%eachyear.
Apply plastic film to winterize windows. Make your windows airtightbyapplyingathinplasticfilmoverthewindowandframeand
fasteningwithdouble-sidedadhesivetape.Forabout$30,enoughplastic film and tape can be purchased to cover most windows in a home. A more expensive insulating kit using acrylic plastic sheets costs $50 to $100 but can be reused for several years. Winterizing windows with plasticfilmisgreatforrentersbecauseit’sinexpensiveandimpermanent butcancutexpensesifyoupayforheat.
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