Start prepping home for winter

With the winter season just around the corner, Butch Gray, a weatherization coordinator for the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, talked recently to TimesDaily Staff Writer Lisa Singleton-Rickman about tips that can make a positive difference in energy efficiency in homes during the cold months.

Q: What does weatherization involve regarding a home?

A: It involves preparing your home to be as energy- and cost-efficient as possible, all year round.

People should definitely winterize in the fall, but it is equally important to have energy efficiency in the spring and summer in the home.

Q: What are the basics of weatherization?

A: Cleaning heating and cooling filters results in a big savings and it's very simple to do.

Homeowners should seal off all unused fireplaces and flue openings because they will suck the heat right out of the house. A good way to do it is to put newspaper in plastic bags and stuff them in the spaces if there isn't a damper to close them off.

Q: What should a homeowner typically check before winter?

A: Replace any broken glass and check insulation. In attics, it should be 6-12 inches. Close off any unused rooms and make sure storm windows are down and interior windows are locked. Close curtains during the night and open them in the day.

Also, make sure the heating and cooling units are serviced and working efficiently. Homeowners should also look for holes in cracks in their homes because caulking is very inexpensive.

Q: What are some easy tips for saving energy in the home?

A: A homeowner can put an extra wrap on the water heater and turn the settings down so that you don't get scalding water, just hot water.

Also, CFL (light) bulbs are more affordable now than in the past and are very efficient.

Q: For what type weatherizing jobs should professionals be called?

A: There are only a few that people may be skeptical to do themselves, like sealing leaks in duct systems. Paying for a quality job in that area can be a big savings for the rest of your time in the home when you have someone certified do it. It involves crawling under houses and in attics and many people aren't comfortable doing that.

Q: Does your agency provide these services and to whom?

A: We provide and have for 23 years a number of services. It's of no cost to the homeowners but it's only done once in a lifetime and we pay for material and labor.

We determine eligibility based on the number of people in the home and the gross income of that number of people. You must qualify. Our funding is through grants provided by the Department of Energy.