Will a $15.58 investment save hundreds off my heat bill? We’ll find out soon enough
I just bought some weatherproofing supplies from the Home Depot. Because we live in an apartment, we only have one external wall. This is good news for keeping the leaks out (I hope) because we just have three window units.
I bought:
- Electric outlet sealers (14 pack) for $2.17
- Rubber foam weatherseal strip tape $2.42
- Window insulation kit $9.96
- Total with tax: $15.58
The electric outlet sealers are simply fire retardant plastic foam that you place between the outlet and the regular plastic cover. It could help keep out drafts, and for just over $2, I’m willing to give it a shot.
The weatherseal strips might be overkill, since I’m also using a window insulation kit. However, these windows are thin and don’t seem to have wonderful seals. I’m thinking that extra little bit will help.
The window insulation kit is a shrink-wrap sort of thing. You use your hairdryer to set it in place.
When I actually install this stuff, I’ll take pictures and let you know just how easy it was.
I’m doing all of this to save money on my heat bill.
Additional related posts:
- How a price book will save the day…or at least save you money
- Fun with an energy calculator: Avoiding a $200+ heat bill
5 Responses
to “Will a $15.58 investment save hundreds off my heat bill? We’ll find out soon enough”
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- Nov 19, 2007: Weather-proofing my windows | Sense to Save
I really need to do this. Thanks for the inspiration. I’ve been trying to reduce our electric bill by not using the dryer, etc. and this would be something that could be done once, would last all winter. Thanks!
You can do it, Debbie! It’s really worthwhile. And, some of the weatherproofing, like the electrical outlet covers, will last as long as you live in your home.
Electrical Outlet Switch Cover Sealers/Gaskets really do work. They can reduce your heating and cooling bill by as much as 20%. They are a cheap way to retain heating and cooling in your home. If you place your hand over your outlets in the Winter on a windy day, you will feel air blowing through them. So the purpose is to seal off the outlets & switches from the living space. I found a local energy audit firm to conduct what is called a blower door test on my home. Before the sealers were installed, the outlets whistled; they leaked so bad. The tech conducted a post test after the sealers were installed and they were not only sealed, but I reduced my home’s over-all air infiltration rate. Simply stated, I am now retaining my heating and cooling. What good is a high efficiency or geo-thermal system if your home cannot retain what is generated?
I went to Home Depot and paid a fortune in small Frost King packs to do my entire home. (It cost me over $100). A couple years later I built a new home, which I had more modern switches and receptacles. I found a company that sells the “Decorator” or “Decora” Leviton switch and outlet sealers/gaskets in bulk, costing a fraction compared to those retail Frost King packs that you find at Home Depot or Lowes. I looked all over for these foam gaskets. For those of you don’t know, the Decora are the fat, contemporary rocker style switches found in newer homes. They will also work on bathroom GFI outlets. I ordered them from ReduceMyEnergy.com and installed them in my home. What a BIG difference. My rooms are cozy and more comfortable too. They have already more than paid for themselves.
Here is a link that might be useful: Electrical Outlet Switch GFI Leviton Decora Sealers Gaskets http://www.reducemyenergy.com/draftproducts.htm
Yes, outlet sealers do work. Big bang for the buck.