Congratulations to Bill for his suggestion to inspect and seal the duct work in his attic. A hot idea for what could be a hot job, but clearly the winner in week three of our energy saving ideas contest.

Especially for those of you who live in Florida, NOW is the time to get busy in your attic. Before you know it, it will be sooo hot up there you won’t want to do this job. Putting it off until next winter will cost you big bucks in lost cooling over the summer, and who knows, when it gets cooler next fall, you might decide to postpone the job until the spring because there’s less urgency to get it done in the cool months. You see how this could go on forever, right? 

So, once again, NOW is the time to do this job. Make a resolution to get whatever supplies you need this week and tackle this job Saturday morning.

What might you need? First off, DO NOT USE DUCT  TAPE. It will not last long in the super-heated environment of your attic. Go to your home improvement center and get a recommendation on what material to use. Professional grade folks use mastic to seal ducts. There is also an excellent foil-backed tape made especially for this job.

Second, you’ll need a good portable light source up there. Maybe one you can clip on the 2X4 timbers you’ll be crawling through. If it’s not battery powered, you’ll need a good quality extension cord that’s long enough to reach everywhere you’ll be going. 

Third, you’ll need to cover up as much as possible. You do not want pink fiberglass insulation  on your skin or in your lungs. Wear a hat, a long sleeved shirt and long pants. Use the duct tape  you may have around the house to seal your shirt sleeves and pants cuffs. Run a strip down your shirt buttons. Wear a bandanna around your neck. Get yourself some rubber gloves, and seal them inside your shirt cuffs. Thin medical gloves will work better when you’re feeling for leaks than the yellow dishwashing ones.

Oh, did I mention, Murphey’s Law suggests leaks will be underneath or behind, instead of on top and up front? That means you’ll probably have to get down into the pink stuff you don’t want to get into to reach them. 

Be sure to wear a breathing mask and safety goggles. You can get inexpensive ones at the same place you buy your sealing materials.

Arrange for an adult to check on you from time to time while you’re up there to make sure you’re OK. Offering you some  liquid refreshmnent will be good also.  

Believe me. These are NOT wimpy safety-jerk ideas you can ignore to prove how tough you are. Your reward will be enjoying an itch-free cold one or six when you’re done. Not coughing for the next couple of days will be good, also. 

If your home has blown cellulose insulation like we use in LifeStyle SunSmart (SM) homes, be thankful. This stuff is much less hazardous to your health and well being than the pink stuff. That’s why we use it. 

Oh, if you decide to pick up a tube of expanding sealing compound just in case you encounter a non-duct space that should be closed, be advised, this stuff is REALLY STICKY. Be careful, or you’ll either be mad (or laughing) at yourself in very short order.    

So, with all these caveats, is this a job beyond your capability? Not at all. It’s just one you need to be careful about. Do it right and you’ll save a bunch of money and feel good about yourself to boot.

Saturday, right?

So, on to week four of our contest. Remember, we are looking for energy-saving ideas that apply to your home. The overall contest will run for four weeks. A winner for each week will be announced right here. Each weekly winner will receive a complimentary $25 Gift Card to Home Depot. We will also designate a Grand Prize Winner who will receive a $250 check from LifeStyle Homes.

Remember, there are some rules which apply to our contest, and you should check them out. But most of all, let’s have some fun with this – fun with a serious purpose. So, GET BUSY and BEAR DOWN. This is the final opportunity for you to grab the big prize.