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Found a simple fix at my local hardware store that cuts energy waste
I was at Ace Hardware in Portland last month getting some caulk and noticed they had a whole display on outlet gaskets. For $4 I bought a pack of 12 and put them behind all my exterior wall outlets. My electric bill dropped $8 the first month and I could feel the difference with my hand on those old outlets. Has anyone else tried sealing those little gaps or do you focus on bigger stuff like windows first?
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jessicac2823d ago
...and honestly I thought it was a total gimmick until I stuck my hand near an outlet on a cold day and felt the draft (like, actually felt it, which is pretty wild for a $4 fix). I mean sure, windows are the big obvious culprits but those little outlet gaps add up way faster than people realize, kind of like how my "just one more cookie" logic always backfires. You probably saved way more than $8 too when you factor in the heater not working as hard, but hey, at least you can brag about your "energy audit" next time someone brings up saving the planet.
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betty_palmer23d ago
Ha! Reminds me of when I caulked my baseboards on a whim. Total game changer for my toes.
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caleb_stone23d ago
Oh man, the baseboard thing is so real. I did the same thing last year after watching a random YouTube video and thought "well, it's just a couple bucks, what's the worst that could happen?" and honestly I'm so glad I did. Not just for the toes, though that's a huge bonus, but the way the whole room just felt tighter and less drafty. It was one of those things where I didn't even realize how much air was sneaking in until it just stopped. I used a cheap silicone caulk and a little smoothing tool, took maybe an afternoon for the whole living room, and the heating bill actually went down a noticeable amount that month. Plus it made the room look way cleaner, like the floor and wall actually meet properly now instead of having those little weird gaps. It's funny how one little job can make you feel like you actually know what you're doing around the house.
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