Family checkbook: Your bank account will warm up to these tips

ByKathy Sweedler

Do you have windows that don't seal completely? Perhaps you have holes going from the outside to the inside of your house from old pipes or wiring? If so, money is slipping out of your house.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating our homes accounts for 42 percent of our utility bills.

The U.S. Department of Energy has recently released a wonderful resource, Energy Saver: Tips on Saving Money & Energy at Home (energy.gov/ energysaver/downloads/ energy-saver-guide).

Here are a few of their tips to seal air leaks in your home:

Test your home for air tightness. On a windy day, carefully hold a lit incense stick or a smoke pen next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other places where air may leak.

Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air.

Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, ceilings and soffits over cabinets.

Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls. This is a very low-cost improvement that will cut down drafts and make your room more comfortable.

Cover single-pane windows with storm windows or replace them with more efficient double-pane, low-emissivity windows.

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Family checkbook: Your bank account will warm up to these tips