Tips to save on heating costs
 Many experts are predicting home heating costs to rise this season. It might be as much as 20% more for people who heat with oil and likely a bit less for other fuels. While there are many big projects that most of us could undertake that would save lots on our heating bills, there are also many smaller and easy projects that we can do that will help save too. Here are some ideas of places to start:
Programmable thermostats - Install a programmable thermostat and set it to turn the heat down when you are sleeping or away. These work best if you have forced air heat, as this type of system can warm a house much faster than a hot water system can.
Insulate water heaters - Water heaters lose heat through their walls, thus causing them to turn on more often and for longer to keep the hot water hot. Insulating your water heater is a quick and easy way to help reduce the heat loss and help save some money. Another idea is to make sure that the heater is set to no more than 120 degrees - hot water doesn't need to be any hotter.
Attic insulation - Over half of the heat we lose in our homes goes straight up... through the ceilings and into the attic. Most experts recommend 18 to 22 inches of insulation in the attic to curb the heat loss. The type of insulation will dictate the amount, as the objective is achieve an insulation value of R60. Sometimes this is a good do-it-yourself project and sometimes it's best to call in the pros. Regardless of the approach, more insulation up there will keep more heat in down below.
Air sealing - Just as important as a good layer of insulation is sealing up the holes, gaps, and cracks. Air sealing not only helps keep moisture and humidity out, but also stops the cold from blowing in. Check around your doors and windows for cracks and gaps that can be caulked. Also think about the ceiling on the upper floor and look for any recessed lights or other "holes" in the ceiling that lead to the attic. Make sure the fixtures are well sealed where they meet the ceiling. While the list of places that you can seal is long, this should give you some ideas. Some experts say that if you added up all the leaks in the average house, it would be the same as leaving a window open 12 inches.
Weather stripping - Check the weather stripping around your exterior doors. Door weather stripping gets a lot of wear and tends to wear out. The easiest way to see whether it needs to be replaced is to check it for breaks and missing pieces. Also, with the door closed, look around the door from the inside and see if you see any light. If you do, you found a gap that is letting cold air in. If the weather stripping is in bad shape, it is usually fairly easy to replace it.
Heating system maintenance - Just as we get our cars serviced so that they run more efficiently and use less gas, most heating systems require periodic maintenance to run efficiently. This usually means having the system checked by an expert to have it cleaned and maintained, but there are also things we can do. Keep an eye on the air filter and expect to change it as much as once a month in the winter. Also take a few minutes to vacuum out the registers on the air ducts - particularly the larger return register.
Duct Sealing - While we are talking about the heating system; a lot of hot air escapes through gaps in the joints of the air ducts. Take an afternoon one day and tape all the seams and joints in the air ducts in the basement and attic. Despite its name, "duct tape" is not the right choice of tape to use. Instead, use silver foil tape (which is designed for this purpose) it will work very well and last a long time.
The good news is that anything you do will help. Even if you undertake just one or two projects, they will help you save on your heating bill. Happy savings!
Slippery sidewalks
 Despite our best efforts with shovels and snow blowers, sometimes ice builds up anyway. Using salt on sidewalks and driveways to melt the ice will work, but the wrong kind of salt can leave you with badly damaged surfaces. Salt can damage black-top, disintegrate concrete and paving blocks, and damage some kinds of stone. When picking out a salt for sidewalks, look for the kind that is made from potassium chloride (and not sodium chloride). This type of sidewalk salt will melt ice without damaging surfaces the way sodium chloride does. You may also want to try mixing the salt with playground sand so that it melts the ice and gives you some traction. If you have pets that are going to walk on the salted surface, be sure to look for a type of de-icing product that is safe for pets.
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