NARI of Greater Chicagoland Provides Homeowners Useful Tips to Prepare for Old Man Winter

Now that the fall season has made its entrance it's never too soon to prepare our homes for the colder weather on the way. With winter weather coming, what home improvement projects can homeowners do now to prepare and save on energy costs?

According to Ron Cowgill, owner of D/R Services Unlimited Inc., Glenview and long-time member of NARI of Greater Chicagoland, there are many money-saving energy efficient improvements you can make on your home before the cold weather hits.

"While the window industry does a great job letting everyone know that they need new windows, there are many other areas of the home where you could be losing energy. A Home Energy Audit provides a report to the homeowner describing exactly where they are losing energy and the necessary steps to take to remove problem areas," said Cowgill. "These reports are thorough and are a great tool to understanding where problem areas lie and what needs to be taken care of. A comprehensive hit list is created that you can provide to a remodeling contractor for an estimate. This testing takes a day to complete and includes a Blower Door Test with an average cost of about $400. Also, ComEd and Nicor perform a home energy assessment on a lesser scale to identify ways you use energy in your home for free."

Cowgill points out that there are obvious places in a home where air leaks and that insulation, caulking and spray foam will yield savings instantly. "The best bang for your buck is attic insulation, "he says. "However, the attic is a place where we do not spend much time and there are many places for cracks and crevices to hide. Merely installing insulation over these trouble areas will just mask the problem. It is best to evaluate the attic and seal these gaps first to maximize any investment on new insulation," said Cowgill.

Cowgill points out that there many money saving things you can do yourself and provided the following list:

• Turning ceiling fans on a low speed clockwise to pull the cool air up

• Disconnecting garden hoses and placing a hose cap (under $10 at your local hardware store) over the faucet.

• Putting up storm windows and doors

• On older home windows you can use the plastic coverings that are adhered with a hair dryer, which will make a big difference on drafts.

• Get your furnace checked annually. A furnace tune up alone can save hundreds on your heating bill.

• Change your furnace filters monthly.

• It's a great time to do last-minute painting and touch ups on windows, doors and railings.

• If you have an old refrigerator or freezer, consider upgrading and taking advantage of ComEd's removal and rebate offer. According to ComEd, old refrigerators and freezers can consume as much as four times more energy than newer models and could be costing you an additional $150 a year in electricity. ComEd will pick up your old refrigerator or freezer for free and provide a $50 rebate.

Cowgill emphasizes that it is beneficial to conduct a Home Energy Audit on a brand new home and that many home builders now make this part of their process.

"Each home is custom built and there's always something that hasn't been caught. We were contacted by a relatively new homeowner concerned about air leaks and overall comfort thinking he needed new windows. We conducted a Blower Door Test on the home, which was under two years old, and discovered where all of the leaks were and the homeowner needed insulation in his basement; not new windows."

Mimi Altman, Executive Director of NARI of Greater Chicagoland (NARIGC) in Des Plaines, encourages homeowners that may be intimidated with do-it-yourself projects to do their homework before selecting a contractor.

"The Greater Chicagoland Chapter of NARI (www.narichicago.org) has a comprehensive web site that provides numerous local options for homeowners to educate themselves prior to making a decision on a contractor. Site visitors have all of the tools at their disposal to plan renovation changes to their home as well as research a reputable contractor in their area. A remodeling project is a long-term investment in your home; improving its value, enjoyment and livability as well as future marketability."

According to Altman, a homeowner who hires a home improvement contractor with a NARI certification is hiring an individual who has made a strong commitment to not only his or her own professionalism, but that of the remodeling industry and to his or her business. And because remodelers are not eligible for certification until they have been actively involved in the remodeling industry for at least two to five years (depending on the certification), a homeowner knows that the NARI certified remodeling professional they hire has had a number of years to develop the experience and skills that can only be gained through extensive hands-on practice.

Based in Des Plaines, The Greater Chicagoland Chapter of NARI (www.narichicago.org) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1987 and currently consisting of approximately 280 member companies. NARI of Greater Chicagoland is committed exclusively to the service of the local professional remodeling industry, representing professional remodeling contractors, product manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, trade and consumer publications, utilities and lending institutions.

Since 1992 D/R Services Unlimited, Inc., in Glenview has provided a wide range of services from changing a light bulb to building an addition and everything else in between. D/R Services Unlimited is fully licensed and firm professionals possess multiple NARI Certifications. They can be found online at restorethenorthshore.com or by phone at (847) 998-1687. Ron Cowgill also co-hosts Mighty House Radio, a home improvement program which has been airing Saturday mornings at 7 a.m. on 1590 a.m. for the past 10 years.