Home Improvement Fixes for Labor Day Weekend

What are you doing this Labor Day weekend? How about something that will leave your wallet a bit heavier this winter? Here’s the deal: We probably don’t have to remind you that Labor Day weekend is the unofficial last weekend of summer. That means cold weather is lurking right around the corner. (Or, if you live in Seattle, stormy weather is already here!) But there are some home improvement fixes that you can do now to ensure that high energy prices don’t bite you once winter rolls around.

According to the Energy Information Administration’s short-term outlook, heating oil prices during the upcoming heating season (usually October though March) are projected to average $4.34 per gallon, compared with $3.31 last season. That’s an increase of about 31 percent. Residential natural gas prices are also expected to rise significantly, from an average of $15.58 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) compared with $12.72 per Mcf during the last heating season — a 22 percent increase.

So, what can you do? This Marketwatch article (provided by building products company CertainTeed) offers advice on what you can do to reduce the impact of high heating costs in your home. Time to put those tools to good use!

• Seal: For a cheap and relatively easy fix, check your windows, doors, and other areas for drafts and seal them off with caulk, weather stripping, plastic sheeting, door sweeps, or draft stoppers.
• Insulate: Have poor insulation? Consider adding insulation, and you’ll no doubt make up for the cost in reduced heating bills.
• Replace filters: Increase the efficiency of your furnace by cleaning or replacing the filter often.
• Call in a pro: A thorough energy audit can help you identify other improvements to make your home more energy efficient. Or, conduct your own.