Winterizing Your Home

(CBS) If you’re feeling a chill in the air, it’s a good time to think about winterizing your home to reduce your heating bills. Danny Lipford, host of “Today’s Home Owner,” has five cash-saving tips for viewers of The Early Show that he says can really add up. Lipford says inspecting insulation, sealing gaps, and maximizing the heating and hot water systems all will save money. According to the Dept. of Energy, the cost to heat an average home is approximately $1,400. Lipford says you can save close to 50 percent of that, if your home is winterized the right way. Lipford uses a total home approach and looks at various areas where heat may escape or not be used efficiently. Whether you live in one of the coldest areas of the country or in a milder climate, any or all of the following steps will help reduce heating bills. Inspect Your Insulation Since warm air rises, the single most effective way to save on heating is to have adequate attic insulation. If you don't know how to tell, look for your ceiling joists. If you can see them, you need more insulation. Lipford uses the new "Miraflex Insulation" for homes. It is the first new glass-fiber insulation to be developed in nearly 60 years. Traditional insulation, known for being scratchy and irritating to the skin, costs approximately 25 cents per square foot. Miraflex is about twice as much, but Lipford estimates the yearly savings from using it could be as much as $150 to $200. Click HERE to view the complete article.