Welcome to Randall The Handyman. You want to lower your energy bills. Vancouver winters are cold and damp. Kerrisdale homes often lose heat through small gaps. You can stop this heat loss today. Use these five simple fixes to save money.
1. Apply Weatherstripping to Doors
Drafts enter your home under doors. This happens often in North Vancouver and West Vancouver. You feel the cold air on your floor. Your furnace works harder to heat the room. You pay more money to the utility company.
Start with your front door. Buy a roll of adhesive foam weatherstripping. Open your door wide. Clean the door frame with a damp cloth. Let the frame dry completely. Measure the length of the top frame. Cut the foam to match this length. Peel the backing off the foam. Press the foam onto the frame. Repeat this for the sides of the door.
Next, check the door sweep. Look at the bottom of the door. See if light shines through the gap. Buy a new door sweep if you see light. Unscrew the old sweep. Place the new sweep against the door. Level the sweep so it touches the floor. Screw the new sweep into place. Close the door to check the seal. You have now blocked the cold air.
2. Seal Windows with Caulking
Windows in the West End and Yaletown face heavy winds. These winds push cold air through tiny cracks. You can see these cracks around the window trim. Use caulk to seal these openings.
Purchase a tube of interior window caulk. Buy a caulking gun. Look for gaps where the trim meets the wall. Look for gaps where the trim meets the window frame. Pull a scraper tool along the gap. Remove any old or peeling caulk. Wipe the area with a dry cloth.
Cut the tip of the caulk tube at a 45-degree angle. Place the tube in the gun. Press the trigger to start the flow. Move the gun steadily along the gap. Apply a thin bead of caulk. Wet your finger with water. Run your finger over the caulk to smooth it. Let the caulk dry for twenty-four hours. This seal keeps your heat inside.
3. Insulate Your Attic and Crawlspace
Heat rises and escapes through your roof. Many homes in East Vancouver and Main St lack proper insulation. You should check your attic levels. You can also check your crawlspace in South Vancouver.
Enter your attic. Look at the floor joists. Ensure the insulation covers the joists completely. Add more mineral wool or fiberglass batts if the insulation is low. Lay the batts perpendicular to the joists. Do not block the soffit vents. Air must still flow through the attic to prevent mold.
Check your crawlspace next. Look for fiberglass batts hanging from the ceiling. Use wire hangers to push the insulation back into place. Ensure the paper side faces the heated floor above. Tape any seams in the vapor barrier on the ground. This prevents moisture from entering your home.
4. Upgrade to Smart Thermostats and LEDs
Technology helps you manage energy use. Homes in Burnaby and Richmond benefit from automated schedules. You stop heating empty rooms. You stop wasting electricity on old light bulbs.
Buy a smart thermostat. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker. Remove your old thermostat. Label the wires. Connect the wires to the new thermostat base. Snap the thermostat onto the base. Turn the power back on. Connect the device to your phone. Set a schedule. Lower the temperature when you sleep. Lower the temperature when you go to work.
Replace your light bulbs next. Find every incandescent bulb in your house. Buy LED bulbs to replace them. LED bulbs use eighty percent less energy. They also last much longer. Switch the bulbs in your kitchen, bathroom, and hallways. This fix takes five minutes.
5. Maintain Your HVAC and Water Heater
Dirty filters make your heater work too hard. This is common in South Main St and UBC area rentals. Your water heater also loses heat through its tank walls. You can fix both issues quickly.
Locate your furnace filter. Slide the old filter out of the slot. Check the size printed on the side. Buy a new filter with the same dimensions. Slide the new filter into the slot. Make sure the arrow points toward the furnace. Change this filter every three months.
Look at your water heater. Touch the side of the tank. If it feels warm, it is losing heat. Buy an insulation blanket made for water heaters. Wrap the blanket around the tank. Secure the blanket with the provided tape. Do not cover the top of a gas heater. Do not cover the thermostat or the pressure relief valve.
Local Service and Pricing
You may not have time for these tasks. You might prefer a professional to handle the ladder work. I provide these services throughout the Westside and all of Vancouver. I ensure your home is airtight and efficient.
I charge $120 for the first hour of work. I charge $85 for each additional hour. I bring the tools and the experience. I help you lower your BC Hydro and FortisBC bills.
Proper maintenance prevents bigger problems. A small leak in your seal leads to high costs. A gap in your insulation leads to cold feet. Fixing these issues now saves you money every month.
Start Saving Today
Go to your front door now. Feel for a draft. Look at your windows for gaps. Check your thermostat settings. Take these small steps to improve your home.
Call Randall The Handyman at 604-442-5142. Book a session to seal your home. I will visit your property in Kerrisdale, East Van, or any Vancouver neighborhood. We will walk through your home together. We will find every air leak. We will fix them one by one.
Start your home energy upgrade today. End your high energy bills now. Move forward with a warmer, more efficient home.
