Winter is fast approaching, and we’ve already had a major cold snap. We’ve all started worrying about heating costs, even though oil is coming down right now. We all know how there are cold spots in our homes and want to stay comfortable. What can we do, especially without costing us a large amount of money or time? We went to Dave Fagnand of Fleury Lumber Company on 231 Main Street to find out what he recommended.

Dave said to check all window and door weather-stripping, especially on older homes. These can be replaced for just a few dollars each and with just the basic tools each homeowner or renter should already have on hand like a untility knife, a hammer, a measuring tape and a screwdriver. Dave has several varieties in a number of sizes on hand.

Locate all drafts in your home around windows and through walls. You can use a lit incense stick to accomplish this with little worry of setting your home on fire; just watch the smoke, it should just go straight up, if not you have air coming in. Use calk to eliminate drafts from windows and near doors. You already should own a caulking gun and a tube of caulk is less than $10!

Add insulation to your attic floor and/or your basement ceiling (if basement is unheated) remember heat rises. R-19 fiberglass insulation is about $.35 a square foot; in an average size house of 28’ X 36’ that would be $350 to do just the attic! And this would make a huge difference in both the comfort of your home and your heating bill. As for tools needed, that trusty utility knife, a tape measure, a hard stick, gloves and a facemask are all you need.

More costly ideas that you would need professional assistance installing (at least in most cases) but that would make a huge difference in comfort and heat loss would be adding or replacing old storm doors at an average of $130 - $350 each. Fleury Lumber has a variety you can order and that can arrive before winter starts. A new insulated steel or fiberglass entry door starts at $200 and goes up with size needed how elaborate a door you choose. Dave can help you choose a good-looking, practical door for your house. And on a grander scale there’s replacement vinyl windows, which start out at $165 each and will improve the looks of your home, make upkeep easier as well as making winter easier to handle.

No matter what your budget or your skills you can do something to improve your home for winter. So go see Dave and the people at Fleury Lumber and they’ll be happy to help you out.