[How to Heat Your Home with Less Fuel This Winter]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

An Important Government Message!
Howto
HEAT YOUR HOME WITH LESS FUEL
This Winter
To insure the health and comfort of your family . . . and add to America’s fighting power, take these 4 steps now:
1	Inspect and adjust heating equipment.
2	Insulate walls, and roof or attic.
3	Install storm windows and doors.
4	Weather strip and seal air leaks around windows and doors.
Prepared Jointly by
Office of Petroleum Coordinator
War Production Board
Office of Price Administration Bituminous Coal Consumers’ Counsel Office of Solid Fuels Coordinator Office of War Information
America Faces a Serious Fuel Problem.
Wherever you live—»whatever you use to heat your home—coal, coke, gas, electricity, wood, or oil—you must save fuel to increase America’s fighting power.
If you live in the Eastern States or the Middle West, and if your home is heated by oil, you risk cold and hardship during the winter months—unless you act immediately.
We Must Save Fuel
Fuel is a weapon of war. It builds and feeds the tanks and planes and ships we send against the enemy. It turns the wheels of our war industries. It heats our homes, offices, schools, and hospitals.
We have plenty of fuel underground. Our problem is to transport it from the wells and mines to war plants, ships, public buildings, and homes throughout America.
Speaking of the oil shortage, the President said:
"I earnestly hope that every citizen will realize the serious incidents which cloud our prospects for petroleum supplies on the Atlantic seaboard next winter. Whatever action he may decide to take, every user of fuel and heating oil should face realistically the fact that there can be no guarantee that he will get enough oil to meet even his minimum needs.”
The production and distribution of all fuel—coal, oil, gas, and electricity—depend upon manpower, which also is becoming scarce.
The fuel you use at home is a drain upon our limited resources of labor and transportation. The more you use, the less of these resources there will be to fight the war.
It is your duty to save fuel for victory!
1
Heat Your Home With Less Fuel.
The way to save fuel is to make your house easier to heat.
In doing this you are also making permanent improvements and adding to the value of your home.
And, last but not least, you are making a wise investment in health and comfort.—for this winter and the winters to come.
To make your house easier to heat:
1.	Have your heating equipment checked to make sure it is in proper running order.
2.	Make your home heat-tight to prevent the cold air from coming in and the heat from escaping.
Put Your Heating Equipment in Good Condition.
You can do many of the things yourself. But if you are not familiar with your heating equipment, it is advisable to call in a competent serviceman to assist you in putting your equipment in proper condition. Frequently, adjustments and repairs will produce increases in heating efficiency up to 40 percent.
Here are the things to do:
Oil and Gas Burners.
Clean the flue passages; with oil burners this should be done at least once, and possibly three or four times, a year. Make a complete combustion checkup. You may be losing too much costly heat up the chimney- See that the draft regulator is properly adjusted. Seal all air leaks.
Coal Burners.
Clean the chimney, flue passages, fire pot, and interior parts with a flue brush. Repair air leaks in the smokepipe, furnace doors, and other parts with insulating cement. Replace broken or rusted dampers, and warped, broken, or bumed-out grates. Make sure the thermostat and stoker, if you have them, are correctly adjusted.
Make Your Fuel Go Further.
Experience shows that in many homes heat loss can be reduced by as much as 40 to 50 percent by making certain improvements. There are many things that can be done. But it must be remembered that every house has its own particular problem.
For example, a one-story house usually has a large attic floor. If this is the case, chances are that the first thing to do is to insulate that large floor area. On the other hand, a two-story house generally has many windows. In this case, these areas should be sealed by installing storm windows or weather stripping.
2
$tudy your house and determine which is the first thing to do to make it easier to heat. Then, if you can afford it, employ other heat-saving devices, too.
Here are the things to do:
Insulation.
The most common kinds of insulating material are loose fill, blanket, batt type, and insulating board.
To insulate an open-attic floor, place material between floor beams. Pack the material snugly, leaving no open spaces. Be extremely careful not to step between the beams as this may damage the ceiling below.
To insulate the finished attic, or the side walls of your house, consult an expert. Either have him do the work, or get explicit instructions from him. Be sure to get detailed directions for any insulating job, including how to ventilate the attic over an insulated floor.
Storm Windows and Doors.
Storm windows and doors can be purchased completely painted and installed, or unpainted and untrimmed. You can, if you wish, fit and paint them and install them yourself.
If you do the job yourself, be sure that they fit tightly in order to get the most benefit from them. If you cannot afford to install them all over the house, be sure to put them where they will do the most good—in rooms you use and heat, and those that face the prevailing wind. Note: If condensation appears on the inside of storm windows, it may be necessary to bore small holes in the bottom of the sash to permit the entrance of air.
Weather Stripping.
The most common types of weather stripping are felt, wood, and metal. (Priorities have eliminated the manufacture of all metals for weather stripping with the exception of a limited amount of zinc.)
If you do your own installation, use felt or wood. Tack or nail the weather stripping snugly between window and window frame, or door and door frame. For metal-frame windows, attach weather stripping with shellac or special cement.
If you prefer to use metal weather stripping, call in a weather-stripping contractor. This will cost more, but metal weather stripping is more permanent if properly installed.
Seal Air Leaks.
In many homes of brick, stone, and stucco construction, there are small openings between the outside walls of the house and the window and door frames. By sealing these openings, a noticeable reduction in heat loss can be made. Material for this purpose can be obtained from weather-stripping contractors and paint stores.
3
This Is an Investment
Making your home easier to heat costs money.
In deciding how much you can and should spend, these factors should be considered:
1.	This is a long-term investment which adds to the value of your house and safeguards your family’s health and comfort.
2.	Part of your investment should come back to you in fuel savings.
3.	Paying cash is the wisest method of financing this investment. This is one of the few kinds of spending that is patriotic right now. Keeping out of debt is in line with the President’s seven-point economic program.
4.	But if you cannot make this investment without the help of credit, there are easy payment facilities available.
The Federal Reserve Board has relaxed restrictions on loans to pay for repairs and‘improvements which save fuel.
Time-payment terms can be arranged by the company from whom you purchase the materials and/or service.
The Federal Housing Administration has a loan plan for financing improvements which save fuel. Ask any bank, finance, mortgage, or insurance company, savings and loan association, or other FHA-qualified lending institution about this plan.
4
Write for These Additional U. S. Government Bulletins on How to Heat Your Home With Less Fuel:
Home Insulation
Information Circular 7166 U. S. Bureau of Mines Washington, D. C,
Thermostat Setting and Economy in House Heating
Letter Circular 694
U. S. Bureau of Standards Washington, D. C.
Oil Burner Chart (available soon)
Office of Price Administration
Consumer Division Washington, D. C.
Bituminous' Coal Chart
Bituminous Coal Consumers’ Counsel Box 483
Washington, D. C.
Buying and Burning Bituminous Coal
Bituminous Coal Consumers’ Counsel Box 483
Washington, D. C.
Anthracite Coal Chart
Office of Price Administration
Consumer Division
Washington, D. C.
Domestic Heating and Air Conditioning
Letter Circular 649
U. S. Bureau of Standards Washington, D. C.
How to Heat Your Home With Less Fuel This Winter
To save fuel for victory----to add to America's fighting power - - to safeguard your family's health and comfort
Put your heating equipment in first-class condition.
Install storm windows and doors.
Insulate your house.
Weather strip and seal air leaks around windows and doors.
Do as much as you can-and do it now!