Winterization makes home heating effective, affordable

Written by Deb Cleworth

 

Old Man Winter recently provided a wake-up call to central Wisconsin.

And while the weather warmed during the weekend, Wednesday's snowstorm seemed like an appropriate reminder for those who might want to do some last-minute winter weatherizing around the home. There were 16 winter storms in 2010 in the state, close to the all-time high of 19 in the mid-1990s and mid-2000s, according to Wisconsin Emergency Management.
Mike and Barb Hittner recently added insulation to their future home, once owned by Barb's mother.
"It was built in '34, and some places we found, it either had no insulation or very minimal insulation," said Mike Hittner of Wisconsin Rapids.
The Hittners went with a blown-in foam insulation because of the existing structure of the older house. They've already replaced some of the windows and plan to replace more next year.
Making sure the heat stays where it should is important.
"Air sealing your home is going to be the most cost effective," said Kurt Pulvermacher, conservation manager at the Water Works and Lighting utility in Wisconsin Rapids.
Sealing leaks and cracks in the attic can not only save money but can reduce or eliminate ice dams and help control moisture that might contribute to mold and structural damage, according to Focus on Energy.
Focus on Energy and Pulvermacher recommend a professional contractor conduct a "blower door test," which can reveal leaks in the home.
"There's some energy credits out there for updating equipment and insulation; it's something a person should probably do anyway," Mike Hittner said.
Applications for energy assistance are up from last year at this time, said Jerry Halbersma, energy assistance specialist with Wood County Human Service. Last year, 3,600 Wood County families applied for the assistance, which helps pay heating and electric bills.
Those who are eligible for the assistance also could qualify for weatherization assistance, said Jeff Sargent, executive director at North Central Community Action Program in Wisconsin Rapids. If the home is qualified, the organization has it audited to determine whether the building meets program standards, and if it's financially advantageous to make changes.
"There has to be a certain cost savings to the home, and other program standards the house has to meet," he said. "If (residents) rent, then their landlord would need to be willing to work with us with the program."
Programmable thermostats also are a good option when it comes to saving money -- if they are used. For each degree the thermostat is set back for an eight-hour period, customers can save 1 percent on their heating bills, Pulvermacher said.
"I think a lot of people have them; probably 80 to 90 percent aren't programmed," Pulvermacher said. "A lot of times, people do things that aren't the biggest bang for their buck."