Heaters are kicking on, thermostats
are adjusted, and some days, one pair of socks just isn’t enough.
It’s obvious that winter is upon us. With the decrease in temperature, many people
see an increase in their heating bills.
Despite this inevitable increase in monthly bills, there are a number of
ways to hit the brakes on your heating bill.
“An enormous number of people come
in to buy window wrap,” says Jane Japadjief, co-owner of Dibble True Value on
West Ferry Street.
She suggests that most of the heat
loss on the West Side is due to the century old windows installed in homes that are
equally as old. Depending on which
window wrap you purchase, it can be stapled, tacked, and taped to window
frames. Wrapping the window frame in
this cellophane plastic creates a pocket of air between the glass and the
plastic, which warms during the day and adds an extra barrier against the cold, Japadjief says.
Despite the antiquity of the windows
in the West Side, Japadjief says that the doors on these homes are
quite durable. However, not every door
is element proof, but weather stripping can help your house retain heat. By creating a seal around the top and sides
of the door, you can reduce the amount of heat escaping your house. To create a seal at the bottom of the door,
install a door sweep, she says. By Jason Murphy