Keep the Heat In and Save: 4 Quick Tips to Reduce Your Heating Bill

Insulating your home is a standard topic because the benefits can be dramatic. Here are four quick tips to make your home cozier and your heating bills shrink.

Number 1: Sealing air pathways through window and door frames, plumbing pass-throughs under sinks, and laundry rooms.

The trick is to identify places where pipes, electrical, or other construction elements create pathways into your home but aren’t adequately sealed.

Fill small gaps and seams with caulk. Cardinal carries a full line of caulks for interior and exterior use. Some older window frames between the wall and the trim may have drafts around their edges which white or clear caulk will effectively seal.

We recommend a spray foam solution for larger holes and cavities on exterior walls. Great Stuff offers several types of expanding spray foam for insulation purposes. Some expand for more extensive coverage, and others expand more gently for smaller areas. They even offer one that has rodent deterrent mixed in to keep those mice and rats outside where they belong.

Number 2: Hot Water Pipe Insulation

Hot water pipes that run through basements, crawls, and attics are susceptible to premature cooling if they pass through cold areas. These insulating tubes are easy to install and inexpensive. Tubular pipe foam is typically sold in 6-foot lengths or rolls and has a seam down its length to allow you to slip it over your pipes easily. It’s easy to cut, and you can hold it in in place with a simple wrap of electrical tape.

Number 3: Door and Window Seals

You can significantly reduce drafts by adding easy-to-install door sweeps and window stripping. There are a variety of types from which to choose. Stop into Cardinal Home Center, and we can assist you in finding the right solution for your application.

Number 4: Window Shrink Seal

A window shrink seal is an easy, inexpensive, and incredibly effective solution for drafty windows. Window seals cover your entire window with a transparent film that stops drafts. You adhere the film over each window and then run a hair dryer on it to make it pull tight and secure. It’s easy and very effective. When Spring comes, they are easy to remove.

Visit us at one of our 3 locations in Charlottesville, Crozet, and Madison, and find more ways to reduce your heating bill.