Draft Snake Tip

1. Seal Those Drafts

Worried about high heating oil prices this winter? Stop letting heated air seep out of your dwelling by finding and plugging up leaks with caulking or weather-stripping. Try the incense test: carefully hold a lit stick up to joints. Where smoke wavers, you have a leak. Work those windows, curtains and blinds: when you need extra warmth, open them up to let the sun's rays in. Close them at night to give more insulation against cold.

Place a rolled bath towel or custom-made 'draft snake' across the bottom of leaky doors and windows. Simply reducing drafts can cut heating energy use 5 to 30%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, which can add up to hundreds of dollars.