Save Big On Heating Bills By Weatherizing Your Home For Cheap

SAN FRANCISO (CBS 5) -- As temperatures continue to drop, turning on the heater is no surprise. But according to The U.S. Department of Energy, turning up the thermostat may cost slightly more then last year. To reduce the cost of your energy bill experts suggest properly weatherizing a home which could save about $437 a year.

Philip Neal who noticed his new apartment was drafty contacted ConsumerWatch. We then put a $20 weatherizing kit to the test. First Neal applied a self adhesive door sweep to the base of the door followed by foam tape around the side of the door. Finally Neal sealed the air gaps around the air conditioning unit.

But to find out whether the $20 kit was worth investing, we brought Brant Newman with Xtra Hand. According to Newman turns the one size fits all doesn't fit Neal's door. "You still have a good quarter of an inch or so gap in here," said Newman. Instead of the kit's plastic door sweep that sticks to one side of the door, Newman suggested a door shoe that could cost anywhere from $10 to $15.

As for the side of the door, Newman suggested a metal frame that could cost about $15 at a local hardware store. But when it came to the air conditioning unit, the foam tape covered the air gaps. Alone the foam tape can retail for about $5. As for weather the kit is worth buy, Newman said it's best to buy products separately. "I think the key is to find the one that works for you and the application that you're looking for," he said.

To narrow those air leaks, experts suggest lighting an incense and following where the air blows. There are also weatherizing programs available for those who need assistance.

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