Homework: It's still not to late to winterize

CLOSE IT UP

The average home has close to an open door when you add up all the cracks and holes, and they're usually in the attic or in the crawl space. When you find holes, get a tube of caulk or foam insulation and run it along the top seams of the interior walls from the attic. Or, if there is a hole under a bathtub, cut out a piece of plywood and patch it up from your crawl space. Then use foam insulation to seal the seams. Another often-overlooked source of heat leaks is around the exterior of a home's crawlspace.

LOOK FOR LEAKS

When thinking about where heat can escape from a home, many think about doors and windows. But there are a lot of other smaller leaks that can add up. About 45 percent of utility costs is associated with heating and cooling, so check all infiltration points. There are lots of opportunities for duct work to have leaks. Start in the basement or the attic. Look at places where ducts are connected, and if there isn't some type of tape sealing around them, wrapping the connections in metal tape can help a lot.

IT'S ALL ABOUT INSULATION

The average cost for attic insulation runs $500 to $750, and it's a fairly quick payback for comfort. If you have chilly floors, insulation installed under your floor is cost-effective as well, but don't bother with adding insulation to your crawl space walls. If you have cold floors, install insulation batts under your floor.

CHECK YOUR FURNACE

When it comes to heating your home, proper maintenance of your furnace or heating source is crucial. Change small filters every three months; with larger filters, vacuum them out and reuse them or change them every six months. Install a programmable thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. It is recommended that the home be kept at 68 degrees in the winter.

STAY OUT OF HOT WATER

Whether your water is heated by gas or electricity, lowering your water temperature to 120 degrees can help cut costs. It keeps you from having to heat your water continuously at a higher temperature. Most water heaters installed before the mid-'90s are pretty inefficient, and you'll probably need a water heater blanket on it if it's in the garage (but not if it's in a controlled environment like the house). You also can reduce your usage of hot water by installing low-flow showerheads or aerators to add more air to the water but keep the same pressure. Another tip: Wash your clothes in cold water.

PUT OUT

THE FIRE

About 90 percent of the heat goes up the chimney. And the fireplace actually draws more cold air into the home. When it's not being used, make sure to shut the damper; if it is used rarely, you can buy an inflatable pillow to stuff into the chimney to seal it off.

WHAT ABOUT WINDOWS?

With all the tax incentives out there for homeowners, replacing your windows may seem like a good idea. But depending on the age and style of your windows, you might want to investigate all your options to see if that improvement will pay off. Adding insulation might give you more bang for your buck.

WHAT IS

YOUR HOME HEATING INDEX?

Check your home heating index with this easy formula: From your gas bill, total therms for the year, divided by the square feet of the house, divided by 0.06. So, for example, 700 therms divided by 1,700 square feet, divided by 0.06 equals 6.86. Anything less than 6 would be considered a fairly energy-efficient home. If you get a number greater than 6, there's room for improvement - and a lower bill.

- McClatchy-Tribune