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Replacing your old thermostat with a new programmable one is very easy to do. By choosing to replace you thermostat with a programmable thermostat will save you money and will keep your home comfortable automatically.

What tools will you need?

Your new thermostat
Drill
Screwdriver
Pencil

Read the instructions

Read the instruction manual thoroughly. Be sure that the thermostat is compatible with your system. If you have any doubts, contact the manufacturer and ask one of their specialists.

Turn off the power to the thermostat.
Carefully remove the old thermostat. You should also remove the old back plate too. Many older models contain a glass tube that has mercury in it. Be careful not to break the glass. Check with your local sanitation for proper disposal.
Label the wires on your system. You may want to use tape to label each one.
If there is a new wall plate, measure and use a level to mark its location. Remove the plate and then drill the holes that you marked. If necessary, use dry wall anchors.
Attach the wires to the new thermostat. On older models there just might be 2 wires to attach. Most new thermostats will have letter designations to show you where the wires should go. For example the red wire would be attached to the letter R on the new one. Check the manual.
Install new batteries if required.
Install the unit to the wall plate.
Turn the power back on to the thermostat and check instructions on how to set your temperature.

And that is all there is to it. In just a few minutes you have switched out your old thermostat to a new model that can help you save money.

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Insulate light switches and electrical outlets

This is one that surprised me. I was changing the faceplate to a light switch in the winter. When I took the faceplate off I couldn’t believe the breeze I was feeling there. When I looked closely, you could see that there was no insulation around that area.

I then went to a home improvement store to see what I can do about it. I found these foam outlet seals that will insulate around a light switch or your outlet plugs. These are very easy to install and should take you less then five minutes to do each on.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to install insulating wall outlet gaskets.

Turn off the power to the outlet or switch you are working on.
Remove the face plate
Select the proper foam gasket for that outlet or switch
Pop out the foam where the plug or light switch will be.
Properly seal the gasket
Reattach the faceplate.
Turn power back on.

You should note the difference now.

These are very inexpensive to buy and will only take a few minutes to do each one.
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Buying And Installing A Door Sweep

Keeping the cold air out and the warm air in your home is an on going battle we face. Most of those air leaks will be found around doors and windows. Many people forget to check under the doors for those leaks.

There are several different types of door sweeps that are available to use.

The most common door sweep is one that attaches to the lower edge of the door. These is usually a metal strip the attaches to the door that has a piece of rubber that will lightly graze your floor. This helps prevents drafts from entering your home. These need to be checked periodically since they tend to wear out after much use.

Door sweeps are made from metal, wood or even plastic. The plastic ones usually attach to the door with a sticky tape. Just peel off the paper, and apply it to the door.

Another type would be a door threshold. This can be a little difficult to install, but it does work great. It is made of wood or metal and has either a rubber or vinyl strip in the center of it. It is set slightly high in the threshold so that it come in contact with the bottom of the door when closed, there by making a tight seal.

The door sweeps I have described above are usually for exterior doors and garage doors. If you have a drafty room, or want to close off certain rooms, then you can add an interior door sweep. You have seen these on TV. It is a piece of felt that fits under the door and is anchored on both side of the door with a round piece of foam rubber. These are very effective and inexpensive to install.

Take the time now to inspect your existing door sweeps, or to see if installing one will help prevent those drafts.

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Insulating The Attic Door With An Attic Door Cover

Many homes now have their attics insulated. However, often times the door or hatch to the attic is not insulated. No sense weatherstripping and sealing up your home only to have that warm air escape through the attic door. There are several ways to prevent that from happening.

One way is to install an attic door tent. This basically unfolds and forms a tent inside the attic to cover the access door. It looks like a reflective insulated tent. When you enter the attic, just push the tent to the side.

A better way to insulate that attic door would be to use an attic cover. This is an insulated door that goes over the attic door hatch. To make a good seal, you can caulk the edges to the floor of the attic. The door actually zips shut so it will form a nice air barrier between your living space and the attic. Installation is easy and should take you about 15 to 30 minutes to complete the job.

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Window and Door Weatherstripping Information

by John Winston in Weatherstripping

Caulking the exterior of your windows and doors is just one way to help keep the cold air out and the warm air in during the winter. To make your home seal up even better, you should check the weather stripping around the doors and windows too.

Adding weather stripping might be the cheapest, easiest and most effective method of stopping the wasting of your energy dollars. Best of all it will only take a few minutes to do too. In just a short time, that draft that has been making your room cold can be eliminated.

Here’s a fun fact. Imagine a ¼ inch gap around a typical 36-inch front door to your home. This is the equivalent of a 9-inch square gap in the door. And you wonder why the room is cold?

Different types of weatherstripping

Foam tape with adhesive backing weatherstripping

The most popular selling weather stripping is the rubber or foam adhesive backed tape. This is very easy to install. First you will need to select the correct width and thickness. Once you have selected the right one, you will need to measure it first to ensure a good tight fit. After you are sure of the length you need, cut the tape and remove the backing and press the tape into place. What I really like about using this is that is the gap is irregular; the foam will fill it in.

Felt weatherstripping

Felt weatherstripping has been around for a long time. You can buy it either plain or ones with a flexible metal strip behind it. To secure felt weatherstripping to a door or window, you will need to either tack it in place, or use a good glue.

Interlocking metal weather stripping

This might be the best way to have a tight seal, but it requires some patience and is a bit expensive. One part will fit into the other to from the seal. One piece is attached to the doorjamb while the other is attached to the door. To do this installation correctly, you will need professional rabbet cutting to do this. This might be out of the budget and skill level of your average homeowner.

Door thresholds

If you open any of your exterior doors, you should see a raised seal on the floor under the door. Most door thresholds have weatherstripping built into it. It will be tubular in shape and will press up against the bottom of the door when closed. Check the condition of this threshold to see if it needs replacing.

If your existing threshold doesn’t have that tubular gasket, you can either install one, or install weatherstripping on the door itself. It is called a door sweep and it has a flexible rubber strip that will seal nicely against the floor/threshold.
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Change Your Furnace Filters Frequently To Improve Energy Efficiency

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Change Your Furnace Filters Frequently To Improve Energy Efficiency

by John Winston in Furnace Filters

Changing your furnace filter is an easily overlooked part of saving money on fuel costs. Many people think it’s too hard to change them or have to call a heating specialist in to do that, when in reality it is very easy to do.

Why you should change your furnace filter

First of all, what is the purpose of a furnace filter? A forced air system blows the air from the furnace through the ducts through out your home, providing heat in the winter and cold air in the summer. To help the circulation, there is a return vent that pumps air back into the unit. A filter catches dirt, dust, pet dander and pollen helps to keep the house clean. As time goes by, the filter becomes dirty and needs to be replaced. When you have a dirty filter, this causes your furnace to work harder and inefficiently. Since it is working harder, you’ll be using more energy and will be wasting money. This is because the filter is dirty and clogged and it is harder for the furnace to move the air. Overworking your furnace like this could possibly cause the blower motor to wear out prematurely. Then you will be facing a huge bill preparing your furnace when it all could have been prevented by something changing your filter monthly.

Now you know the reasons for changing your filters regularly.

Furnaces work more efficiently and save you money.
Prevent premature wear and tear on blower motor. Your furnace will last longer.
Will rid your house of floating dust particles, pollen and pet dander, making your home cleaner.
You can buy furnace filters in bulk, thereby saving money.

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