Home Heating & Comfort Tips

The winter kit

Eight small buys our posts point to, and what to check before you pay for any of them.

Lower the heating bill

Hold your filter up to a light. If light barely passes, replace it.

Before you buy: match the size printed on the frame of the old one. Check the new one monthly in winter.

ENERGY STAR says certified models save about 8% on heating and cooling on average. The savings come from the schedule.

Before you buy: look for the ENERGY STAR mark and check your wiring for a C-wire. On a heat pump, pick one that manages backup heat.

Seal around the door frame and threshold, then add a sweep along the bottom. The same weatherstrip seals the edges of an attic hatch.

Before you buy: measure the door width and the gap under it.

They sit behind the cover plates of outlets and switches on outside walls.

Before you start: turn the breaker off before you take a plate off.

For the basement sill, where the wood meets the foundation. Push backer rod into wide gaps first, then caulk.

One rule: never seal the vents or combustion-air openings for a furnace or water heater.

Measure before you change anything. Aim for about 30 to 45% indoors, closer to 30% when it is below about −10°C outside.

Before you buy: a basic hygrometer is enough. Read it in your main living area.

Press the test button today. No sound means it needs a battery or a replacement.

Before you buy: look for a Canadian certification mark on the package, and follow the manual for where to mount it.

Plug it straight into the wall, keep 1 metre clear of anything that can burn, and switch it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Before you buy: look for a tip-over shut-off and a CSA or ULC mark.