Filling the Gaps:

The Small Fixes That Make a Big Difference

"This house is miserable! The kitchen feels like a furnace, the bedroom and bathroom are freezing, my skin is cracking from the dryness, and drafts are creeping in from every corner." That was my wife Donna’s take on the house we bought in May. Now that winter had arrived, our new home was expensive to heat, freezing in some rooms, and a sauna in others.

We considered new windows, doors, insulation, and siding, but the costs were prohibitive. So, we held off on any major changes until we could save enough to afford them. Meanwhile, we made do with extra blankets, thick socks, and a space heater at night.

At the same time, I was embarking on a new venture—starting an energy auditing company. I got certified as an energy auditor and home inspector, ready to help others improve their homes. But with all that going on, I never got around to auditing our house.

That winter, Donna pointed out the obvious, so I set aside time for an energy audit and inspection, expecting the worst—needing insulation, siding, new windows, and doors.

Instead, I discovered that small, strategic fixes had a greater impact on our home's comfort and efficiency than I ever imagined.

By the following summer, our air-conditioning bill was a third lower. When winter returned, the whole house was free of hotspots and drafts. Every room in the house was comfortable, and we decided that replacing the windows or siding wasn’t necessary (though we did add insulation in the attic). Our heating bill was halved.

The Leaky Bucket:

Photo by Ron Lach

What magic made the drastic difference? It was the simplest and cheapest fix—but first, let me explain.

My guitar teacher and friend, Roger Pitts, used the metaphor of a "Leaky Bucket" during one of our lessons. He was talking about guitar practice, but it applies to much more.

Everyone has leaks. Small things we do, even when we know we shouldn't, that work against us. We forget things we learned, we pick up bad habits, we get lazy, and even skills we've mastered will degrade over time.

There are ways to deal with this. You can add more practice, like pouring water into the bucket faster than it can leak out. But realistically, who has four hours a day to practice guitar?

Or, you can patch the leaks so the water you add doesn’t spill. In guitar practice, or any learning process, a method called "Mastery Learning" helps patch those memory leaks. It’s the gold standard for learning. Just like a child who struggles with basic math will find algebra difficult, not gaining mastery before moving on leaves you with a leaky bucket.

Patching the Leaks:

We hear from every "self-improvement" or "healthy living" guru that there are some basics we must do to thrive: e.g. diet, exercise, sleep, and community. But here’s the thing—before you try to optimize part of your life, stop letting leaks undo all your hard work.

Have you heard of the latest and greatest diet? Whether the new diet is keto, gluten-free, organic, vegan, or Mediterranean, get the basics right first. Eat a balanced diet with lots of non-starchy vegetables, drink plenty of water, eat slowly, and stop when you’re full. Patch the leaks before you optimize.

The latest exercise fad? Great. But first, make sure you’re getting the basics: move every day, stretch, lift some heavy stuff a couple of times a week. Quit smoking and vaping. Patch the leaks before you dive into the latest craze.

Sleep advice? It’s all about consistency: get at least eight hours, wake up at the same time every day, and sleep in a cool, dark room. Fancy sleep aids and routines can help, but they won’t fix a leaky bucket. Patch the leaks first.

Community? Take the time to reach out to friends, family, and community. Social connections are the glue that holds life together. Social media can’t replace real human interaction. Patch the leaks first.

Hard decisions? Take care to step back and make sure of the basics first. Are you solving the right problem? Have you checked the risks and eliminated options that could end in disaster? Have you considered what happens next? Fix the leaks.

The Simple Fixes:

So, what were the "magical" fixes that transformed our home? The energy audit revealed a disconnected HVAC duct in the ceiling. Fixing it took about twenty minutes and cost nothing. It allowed the system to properly heat and cool the bedroom and bath, reducing the excessive heat in the kitchen and stopping the attic from getting overheated.

I then spent a weekend caulking and weatherstripping the house. I sealed and insulated the rim joist, which runs around the perimeter of the floor system like a belt. It’s usually leaky in older homes, and ours was no exception. The weekend’s work and a couple of hundred dollars made the difference.

Before your next big thing, focus on filling the gaps. Getting the basics right makes every effort more effective, whether in your home, your health, or your life.

Special Thanks:

Thanks to Al, my ChatGPT AI assistant, for helping me make this post clearer and more engaging.

That's My Perspective.