As colder weather approaches, homeowners feel a different kind of heat - high plan bills and costly repairs, recurrently rightful to damage from moisture leadership the home.

usually the culprits are inefficient windows also doors that compromise the home's "envelope" - the fixtures and surfaces that all there help pin down indoor temperatures and provide protection from the elements.

Any leak pressure the home's envelope hits the pocketbook hard and fast. Energy without over windows alone can invoice for 10 percent to 25 percent of a household's heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

"Now is the time to spend a little another effort inspecting your familiar to make complete fixtures are command the best possible endowment thanks to combating cold, wet weather," said Joyce Richter, windows expert since Jeld-Wen, a window and door manufacturer. "Look for warping or cracks that test repairs or replacements are needed."

Jeld-Wen offers these fresh tips:

* profit your senses to detect leaks. accept a blazing candle to be closed windows and doors. You'll see soon if cold temper is penetrating indoors or warm air is seeping alien. semblance thanks to below freezing spots and gander for condensation on cold surfaces. Inspect seals and weatherstrips.

* Take boost of potential solar heating. use insulated window coverings and close them at duskiness. eventuate south-facing window coverings during the day.

* Understand how energy efficiency is measured. The most chief vitality efficiency grading is U-factor. This is the amount of sparks flowing through a window. The minor the number, the more energy-efficient the window is.

* affirm Energy Star-qualified products. Appliances and incomparable household products that have undergone rigorous testing will save money on energy bills during all seasons. The Environmental cover Agency states that a typical household responsibility save up to 30 percent on energy bills, about $400 per year, by selecting Energy Star-qualified products.

* Research the new generation of high-tech building materials. Composite materials, twin as energy-efficient fiberglass doors, accept become additional widely available to homeowners. These materials protect against the forces of nature that cause the most worry: temperature changes, severe storms, moisture and insects.