Advice from Top NJ Real Estate Agents on How to Cut Home Heating Costs

5 ways to get your NJ real estate home ready for the upcoming winter months

 

With the winter season on the horizon, it is important to prepare your home for the cold weather in order to save the most amount of money month after month. It is unnecessary to invest thousands in high-tech insulation or a super-efficient furnace in order to reduce your home heating costs. For example, just sealing drafts could lower your bills 3% to 18%, according to the Department of Energy. Considering the increased expense of those individuals living in the Northeast section of the country, you can save as much as $250 annually by burning natural gas or $550 for oil. See below for tips and advice from home inspectors as well as NJ real estate agents on how to cut down on your monthly heating expenses by doing simple, at-home projects.

Install Automatic Door Sweeps

Sweeps are draft-blocking strips that are attached to the bottom of exterior doors. They are designed to prevent freezing gusts of wind from rushing underneath and coming into your NJ real estate home. Some disadvantages are they tend to scratch hardwood floors and catch on welcome mats as the door is opened and closed. Try a spring-loaded automatic sweep, which lifts up as the door opens and presses down to form a tight seal when it is closed.

Purchase Durable Weather Stripping

The test to determine if you need weather stripping for your home is if you can easily slide a sheet of paper between a door, whether it is an exterior, basement, or attic door, as well as its frame, it is in need of weather stripping, according to NJ real estate experts. Available products include self-adhesive foam, which will most likely lose its stickiness before the spring thaw, and bronze strips, a much better alternative, which are available in various sizes and are permanent fixtures.

Seal Any Cracks or Openings

In order to test your home for openings in need of caulk in your home, NJ real estate home inspectors suggest to close doors and windows, and turn on bath, attic, and range-hood exhaust fans. The air will be suctioned out of your home, encouraging drafts to rush in to replace it. Carefully hold a lit candle near gaps, such as where pipes penetrate the wall under sinks and where baseboards meet the floor. Where smoke dances near hidden cracks, spray insulating foam, or use caulk for visible cracks.

Insulate Your Attic Hatch

Pull-down attic ladders are infamous for wasting energy inside the home because they are built without regard for insulation or sealing off air. You can fix both problems simultaneously with a product known as an attic tent, an insulated fabric hut you install over the hatch, staple to the attic floor, and zip open when you need to get into the attic.

Cover Your Air Conditioner

An in-wall air conditioner or a window unit that is too cumbersome to remove in preparation for the winter season, will also add to the cold drafts in your home and drive up heating costs. Custom-made insulated wraps are available at your local hardware store and the internet to fit snugly over the unit to keep the heat inside the home, according to NJ real estate experts.

 

The real estate market is changing rapidly and expanding into new avenues almost daily. Sometimes it can be very difficult to find the answers you need on a specific topic or issue. In times like these, you need a real estate professional who will provide valuable information and trustworthy advice. For more information on NJ real estate, call us today or click here to be connected with one of our top real estate specialists.