Editor's note: This is the last Trash Talk column. Best wishes to Dave and Lillian Brummet, who are undertaking other writing pursuits at this time. Trash Talk has appeared in the WA Free Press during the past couple years as well as other smaller papers, chiefly in Canada.

Wintertime Savings!

For those of us living in climates that require extra household heating in the winter months, there are tricks for increasing the comfort of our homes while lowering the cost.

Windows, especially older ones, can have a negative aspect in wintertime. Without the benefit of modern double or tripled glazed windows there is a lot of air leakage with older style window systems. The first thing one can do on the exterior is to caulk any gaps between the window, window frame and siding of the house. If you don't have storm windows construct your own using clear UV plastic and a wooden frame. Use wing nuts to secure the frame in place. In the spring remove the frames and store in a safe place for next year's use. On the interior apply the clear window film which is now readily available in kits of various sizes. Attached to the frame of windows with double-sided tape and shrunk with the heat of a blow dryer this plastic must be removed after the winter season resulting in a yearly investment. We have found that it is well worth the investment in an older home and notice the resulting drop in heating costs because of it.

Any window facing south may be an asset during the winter. By keeping the drapes open during the hours that windows receive direct sunlight, you make the most of the sun's free energy to warm the home. Washing windows just before winter sets in ensures film and dust do not impede the sun's rays.

Keep furniture and drapes off of heating vents. It makes no sense heating up the bottom of a couch or blowing warm air up a curtain and fogging up the window. Vent deflectors are available that divert warm air to where it is needed to make better use of valuable heat.

Have your furnace inspected and cleaned every year. The ducting should be cleaned every few years to keep the air you breathe clean and to allow the air to flow efficiently. Be sure the furnace filters are changed regularly - monthly in our home. Keep the temperature turned down when you are out of the house or asleep in bed. The use of a programmable thermostat makes this feat much easier to accomplish and will save enough on your heating bill in a year to pay for the cost of the thermostat.

Exterior walls with electrical outlets or switches have potential "cold spots". Where these electrical boxes are is where insulation isn't! Purchase a package of inexpensive foam inserts and install in each box to help block any drafts. Often the largest heat loss in homes comes from the exterior doors themselves. Door weather-strips and sill plates need to be inspected for air leaks and replaced if necessary.

A draft cozy, placed at the bottom of doors to prevent drafts, can help a lot.

Some other "cold spots" in a home are the fireplace and range hood. Check the fireplace damper to ensure it fits snug, so that when you close it during the periods it is not in use it will not let in cold air. Sometimes the suction from a forced air heating system can pull cold air down through the range hood above the stove. If the outlet doesn't already have a flap to prevent backdrafts, try fabricating one or buying one.

Keep the hot water tank thermostat at the lowest level that suits your household needs. Unless your hot water tank manufacturer counsels otherwise, install a tank insulation kit (many newer models are superinsulated and counsel against additional insulation). Insulate any hot water pipes you can readily access. Tubular pipe insulation is available at most large hardware stores.

Other good savings on hot water can be had by installing an inexpensive mechanical timer on the water tank heater, which turns it off at night or in the day when no one is around. Partially shutting the inlet valve on the hot water heater can also lessen the rate that you use the hot water in sinks and in the "warm" setting of the washing machine.

These are just a few, reasonably inexpensive ways for you to save some money this winter and every winter to come for many years. You can feel pride in that you are a conscious and responsible consumer of resources. You will also feel a lot cozier in your warm draft-free home.