By Michael, on September 24th, 2013 
According to a study conducted by Moneysupermarket.com, energy customers generally use approximately 40 percent of their annual consumption throughout the winter months. The start of winter brings with it a spate of increasing prices related to energy consumption. Energy consumers could face quarterly bills of £530. Use the tips below to make your home safer and more energy efficient.
1. Caulk Baseboards to Eliminate Draughts
You need to check for draughts. Moisten your hand and then run it along the edges of your interior door and window trim. You should also perform this test on your exterior wall baseboards. The draught feels like wind blowing through a straw. While an eighth of an inch may seem tiny, if you multiply that by the length of your baseboards, it is a long, continuous gap.
2. Light Switch and Outlet Gaskets
Cold air leaks into your house via your light switches and outlets. There are foam gaskets available that fit inside your outlets and light switches. These gaskets are an inexpensive, quick and easy way to block some of the cold air coming in. Nearly all home-improvement and hardware stores carry these gaskets.
Make sure that you make a note of how many gaskets you need for light switches and outlets. If you have double light switch plates, make a note of those as well.
3. Check Exterior Doors and Add Door Sweeps
If you have door draughts, purchase door sweeps. A door sweep is a long rubber or metal extension. Nail these extensions onto your exterior doors to close the gap. Install door sweeps on your basement doors and attic entries as well.
4. Tend to Your Fireplace – Clean It and Install Glass Doors
The Fire Safety Advice Centre for the United Kingdom states that there are more than 60,000 home fires annually. These fires kill approximately 500 people and injure 10,000 more. The London Fire Brigade recommends checking your smoke detector every week. Vacuum it out every six months. Check your home security system monthly because many home security systems have fire alarm capability.
A dirty chimney could cause your home to catch fire. A professional chimney sweep needs to inspect and clean your chimney every autumn.
Close the flue when your fireplace is not in use. Put a note on the refrigerator to remind you to close it. Even closed, the flue is a heat loss point. Install glass doors with vents to keep your fireplace airtight.
5. A Wet-Dry Vacuum
A wet-dry vacuum is useful any time of year. However, it comes in handy if precipitation is falling and your pipes burst. A wet-dry vacuum gives you the chance to clean up the mess until you can permanently fix the problem.
Some of these vacuums have the ability to act as a snow blower. They also come in handy when there is a washing machine or dishwasher mishap.
6. Clean Your Gutters
If an ice dam forms on your roof, it can make proper drainage difficult. When water backs up, it damages your shingles. This leads to leaky ceilings in your home. Avoid ice dams by cleaning your gutters before winter sets in. When the snow starts falling, use a long-poled roof rake to remove it. You can also prevent ice dams if you insulate your attic.
7. Duct Tape
You can purchase pre-slit pipe foam to insulate your pipes. Use the duct tape to close the gaps between the pipe foam. You can use fibreglass insulation around your pipes if you cut it properly and then use the duct tape to hold it on.
Guest Post -Amy Jones
Amy is a residential zoning agent for the city and has a background in real estate and finance.
Picture Credit- architecturalsalvageantique.com
