Find Out Where the Cold Is Coming From Before You Turn Up the Thermostat

There’s a routine I hear about from a lot of Connecticut homeowners this time of year. You sit down in your favorite chair after dinner, feel a chill, and head for the thermostat. An hour later, the kitchen is toasty, the upstairs is stuffy, and your feet are still cold.

Before you bump the heat up another degree, take a walk around the house. More often than not, the culprit is something small that’s been there since last winter.

Start with where you feel it.

Is it the whole house, one room, or just the chair by the window? Does it get worse when the wind picks up? Is the room fine in the afternoon but cold after sundown? Those answers will point you toward the problem faster than the thermostat will.

Check the windows and doors.

Make sure your windows are fully closed and locked. I know that sounds too obvious, but a window that was open on one of those warm October afternoons doesn’t always get sealed properly when it’s shut again. The lock helps pull the sashes together snugly.

On a breezy day, run your hand around the window edges and trim, then do the same around your exterior doors. If you feel air moving, look at the weatherstripping. It flattens, cracks, and comes loose over time. Check the door sweep at the bottom, too. A worn one is often the reason for cold ankles.

Feeling a draft doesn’t automatically mean you need new windows or doors. Often a repair or fresh weatherstripping does the job. Find the problem first, then decide on the fix.

Look at your furniture.

A couch pushed against a baseboard heater or a rug over a floor register keeps heat from getting into the room, and long curtains can do the same thing. Keep heating equipment and return-air vents clear, and follow the manufacturer’s clearance requirements. The furniture layout that worked all summer may need a small adjustment now.

Make your window coverings work for you.

Open them when the sun is shining in, then close them at night to cut down on heat loss. Just keep curtains well away from any heaters. And if your favorite chair sits right next to a big window, sliding it a couple of feet into the room might be all it takes to make your evenings more comfortable.

Don’t forget the filter.

If you have forced-air heat, check the filter according to your system’s instructions, because a dirty one restricts airflow. If you’re not sure which filter to use or how often to change it, ask your heating technician. And if a room suddenly stops getting heat, have the system looked at instead of turning up the thermostat to compensate.

Think beyond windows and doors.

Windows and doors get most of the blame because we sit and walk next to them, but they’re not the only places air sneaks in. Check around the attic hatch, plumbing pipes, and anywhere wiring passes through the house.

That said, please don’t head into the attic with a can of spray foam and seal everything you see. Some openings need to stay clear, and areas around chimneys and heating equipment need special care. If the house is uncomfortable all the time, a professional home energy assessment can pinpoint air leaks, insulation needs, and other causes.

Keep a list.

As you walk around, jot down the room, what you feel, and when it happens. It’s useful whether you end up making a simple repair yourself or calling someone in, because it saves a lot of guesswork.

There’s nothing wrong with turning up the heat when you need it. But before you spend the winter fiddling with the thermostat, give the house a little attention. A few easy fixes might be all it takes to get that chair comfortable again.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Eight Quick Home Projects to Tackle This August

August is a great time to roll up your sleeves and knock out some easy home improvement jobs before fall rolls in. Whether you’re looking to boost your home’s value or just give it a little glow-up, these projects don’t require a contractor or a ton of time. Just a weekend, some elbow grease, and maybe a cold drink or two.

1. Clean and Seal the Deck

Your deck’s taken a beating all summer through the sun, rain, foot traffic, and maybe a few BBQ sauce mishaps. Give it a good power wash and reseal it. You’ll prevent wood rot, keep splinters at bay, and extend the life of the wood. Bonus: it’ll look brand new heading into Labor Day.

2. Swap Out Air Filters

Your HVAC system’s been running hard. Dirty filters make it less efficient and kick dust and allergens back into the air. Swap in clean filters and breathe easier. It’s cheap, fast, and makes a real difference for indoor air quality.

3. Caulk Windows and Doors

Feel a breeze where there shouldn’t be one? August is your last call to stop drafts before cooler weather hits. A $5 tube of caulk can save you serious cash on heating bills down the line.

4. Add a Smart Thermostat

Speaking of heating bills, installing a smart thermostat is an easy DIY with big returns. It helps you manage energy use and can pay for itself in a year. Many are compatible with Alexa or Google Home, if you’re into that kind of thing.

5. Declutter and Donate

This one’s less about tools and more about tackling the post-summer mess. Sort through the garage, basement, or that closet you’ve been ignoring. You’ll make space for fall gear and maybe even uncover something useful you forgot you owned.

6. Freshen Up the Front Door

Curb appeal matters, even if you’re not selling. A fresh coat of paint on your front door or new hardware (like a modern handle or knocker) can give your entryway a whole new vibe. Go bold or classic, just make it intentional.

7. Clean Out the Gutters

August is dry, which makes it the perfect time to clear out gunk from your gutters. You’ll be glad you did once the leaves start falling. Bonus: you’ll prevent water damage, mold, and unwanted pests.

8. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

It takes five minutes, and it could save your life. Replace batteries, test the alarms, and make sure you’ve got one in every key area. Safety first, always.

You don’t always need a full-blown renovation to make your home better. These projects are simple, affordable, and perfect for that August energy before school starts and the busyness of the fall season begins.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Energy Efficiency Home Upgrades That Add Value While Saving Money

In case helping the planet isn’t enough motivation for you, creating an energy-efficient home not only reduces your utility bills, but it can increase its value too. Real estate buyers are showing increased interest in homes that carry  Energy Star certifications and paying less for heat and electricity is a huge bonus too.

With so many options to improve your home’s energy consumption, how do you choose what to focus on? Here are some of my favorite upgrades which are easy to implement and will give you the best bang for your buck.

Insulation

Adding or upgrading your attic and wall insulation is a fantastic and cost-efficient way to lower heating and cooling costs. For an average 1,000 square foot ranch, the project costs around $2,000 and the benefit can be upwards of $600 per year on energy bills. In our area, more than 75% of homes are underinsulated which allows heat to escape in the winter and cool air to be lost in the summer. If you’re considering central air for the coming season, don’t even think about putting a system in without having your insulation inspected first.

Solar Panels

While not cheap or easy, solar panels do offer excellent energy savings and are worth mentioning here. The cost can be anywhere from $15,000-$30,000 and once installed, you can expect savings of $500-$1,000 per year on energy costs. Solar panels require very little maintenance but many people consider them unsightly. Suppliers are working on better aesthetic solutions and I think we’ll see a lot of improvements in this area in the next few years. Pound for pound, insulation is a less expensive solution with comparable benefits.

Windows and Doors

Homes lose a ton of energy through windows and doors, especially older ones with loose fitting frames and single pane glass. Energy efficient windows and doors are a smart investment as they will not only save you money in the long run, they are also easy to clean and operate with virtually no required upkeep.

Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping is usually the first recommendation I make for homeowners looking to lower their utility bills cheaply. Energy audits reveal that up to 40 percent of heating and cooling losses occur through air leaks, particularly in older homes. Sealing off these leaks is an easy project that any homeowner can do, it’s very low cost, and the materials can be found at any home improvement store.

Programmable Thermostats

I love programmable thermostats which can help you reduce your energy consumption when you don’t need it. A smart system will allow you to turn down heating and cooling when you’re at work or away for a period of time and the savings will often be recouped in a year. While systems differ, you can expect to spend $200 or less depending on the bells and whistles included.

Gas Fireplace

Gas fireplaces have an energy-efficient rating of more than 70% where wood-burning fireplaces rank around 15%. The cost to convert wood to gas is roughly $2,000, which will pay for itself in just a few years time. While many homeowners love both the smell and the look of a traditional wood burner, new technology has helped gas fireplaces look much more appealing and less artificial than when they were first introduced to the market.

Low-Flow Faucets

While heating and cooling are the biggest energy eaters, it’s definitely worth thinking about your water intake too. Low-flow hardware for toilets and showers is cheap to buy, easy to install, and can cut water usage by up to 50%. This is both great for the environment and can save you upwards of $200 per year on the bill. If you have an old dishwasher and washing machine, now is the time to replace those too as energy efficiency has been the biggest upgrade focus for appliances in recent years.

Making smart energy efficiency investments is a good idea for any homeowner, but it’s important to learn more about your individual home and where improvements can be made. Scheduling a no or low-cost energy audit is a great place to start.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.