- Add WeatherstrippingReplace worn-out weatherstripping. Pay close attention to seals on doors that get a lot of use–such as those on the front of the house or between the house and attached garage.2. Improve Windows If you’re not ready to spring for new windows, fix up the ones you have by replacing latches that don’t grip tightly, adding weatherstripping or making repairs to storm windows that are stuck open. You can even build simple wood-and-glass interior or exterior storm windows. Installing a storm window on the inside or outside of an old-fashioned single-glazed window doubles its R value (to 2 or slightly better, about equivalent to an entry-level insulated glass window).3. Tune Up Boilers and Furnaces Oil-fired boilers and furnaces need a yearly cleaning and tuneup. Gas-fired furnaces and boilers can go longer without it, but if you haven’t had a gas appliance tuned up in two or more years, schedule this as soon as possible.4. Deal with Air ConditionersThere is no effective way to insulate a window air conditioner. Remove it. Install an insulated cover on through-the-wall air conditioners. Consider replacing these appliances and stepping up to central air if your budget allows it.5. Patrol for Heat LeaksTake some time on a bright Saturday morning and have a look around the house, especially in dark crawlspaces, attics and any rooms above a garage. Use spray foam to seal gaps where you see daylight entering. Likewise seal around gaps where pipes and wires enter the attic from the floor below.6. Insulate Drop-Down Stairs Buy a polystyrene hood to fit over the opening for the drop-down stairs that lead to the attic. You can also build one yourself using polystyrene panels and construction adhesive.7. Cover Fireplaces A fireplace is nothing more than a direct hole to the outside. If the fireplace is unused, close the damper and install a removable panel built of drywall glued to a piece of polystyrene insulation. Install air-tight glass doors in a metal frame over working fireplaces.Roy BerendsohnSenior Home EditorRoy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he’s not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.
