Jim At The Top (Jim Pedicord) Blog

I’m sure you have noticed, for the last several weeks it seems like everyone has “tips” to help you winterize your house:  check insulation and weather stripping, caulk, get the heater checked, get a programmable thermostat, yadda yadda yadda…. One thing I rarely see on those lists though is a reminder that your ceiling fans can help you stay comfy during the heating season as well as cooling.   Don’t retire them for the winter, just flip the switch to reverse the rotation.  In the summer you get cooled by the “wind chill factor” and in winter the heat that rises toward the ceiling is recirculated without feeling like a draft. I think the best way to remember to make the switch is, whenever you change your system from cooling to heating or vice versa, change your fans too.  Well, maybe not in the Houston area where we tend to have heating and cooling in the same day, but you get the idea… BUT PLEASE USE A STURDY LADDER SAFELY! ...

Insulated Garage Doors This time of year it's easy to get advice on "winterizing" your home, but one area I rarely see mentioned is your garage door!  It's one heck of a big "hole" in your outside walls if you have an attached garage.  Here's a bit of information that might help if you have an existing door you want to upgrade rather than buying a new factory-insulated door.   How to Insulate a Garage Door By:  Lisa Kaplan Gordon  - National Association of Realtors - houselogic Garage insulation cuts energy bills and street noise. Here’s how to insulate your garage door. Garage door insulation can make your life warmer, cooler, and quieter. It lowers energy bills, acts as a barrier between you and street noise, and brightens an otherwise dreary space. Garage door insulation is an easy DIY project; it’ll cost you about $200 to insulate two 9-foot-wide doors. Types of insulation Any insulation type will increa...