Winterizing Your Home: Simple ways to keep the heat in this winter
(Queue music)… Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful.. well maybe not quite THAT frightful yet but it will be soon – so what are you doing to keep your house delightfully warm this winter?
Over the cooler months, we spend a lot of money heating our homes. But a home that isn’t energy efficient can be a significant expense, and you’re wasting your money heating the street if you don’t take a few simple measures to lock that heat in. Here are some tips for you this winter.
Drafty Doors – Cold air is coming in from underneath your doors while the warm air escapes. The simplest solution (other than changing your doors) is to roll up a towel and fit it snugly under your door. You can also buy “Draft Snakes” from the store or make your own filled with rice or sand.
Mind the Gap! – Small gaps around your windows and doors will blow the air right in. If you have this problem, a caulking gun can make a big difference in keeping that cool air out this winter. To test a window or door for gaps, light a candle on a breezy day and hold it close to the window frame. If the flame bends, you’ll know air is coming through.
Overworked Thermostat - Make sure you have a thermostat that you can adjust depending on the time of day. If you are out of the house at work and school, you don’t need the heat running as high, just raise it about an hour before you get home so that your house is nice and toasty by the time your family gets in at the end of the day. Also, it’s a good idea to lower the thermostat at bed-time.
Insulation Scarcity – Homes lose a significant portion of heat through the roof so make sure you have adequate amounts of insulation in your attic. The recommended types of insulation does change over the years so it’s a good idea to call someone in and make sure you’re at least at the recommended ‘R’ rating. While you’re at it, insulate your walls and basement ceiling too.
A Cool A/C – A window air conditioning unit is great in the summer but sometimes cool air can be entering your house through small cracks and gaps in your window. Rather than taking the unit down for the winter, tarp it up and keep the cool air outside where it belongs.