As we all know, our Midwest Winters can be quite cold and harsh. This can leave your home feeling drafty, cold and just plain uncomfortable. Too many times we must sacrifice our comfort for our wallets by bundling up while inside and leaving the thermostat lower. But why is that? What can we do to combat this? How can we be comfortable in our own home in the winter but not feel the impact to our wallets?
When winterizing your home, there are many different areas to look at to ensure that your home is as efficient as it can be. What it all boils down to, is that the energy that’s being generated to heat your home is being lost and sent out into the cold Winter air.
Here are 5 hacks to winterize your home to make it more comfortable and help your wallet.
Replace worn out weather stripping around doors. If you can see daylight around your doors, then it’s time to replace them. It’s an easy and affordable fix that can help save you money and precious heated air. Typically, you can find weather stripping for your door for under $10 at your local home improvement store or online.
Do you have a fireplace? Close that damper! If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace to enjoy during the Fall and Winter seasons, it can be a very low-cost source of heat and comfort for your home. But what about when you’re not using it? When not in use, you should ensure that you are closing the damper. If not, you are essentially leaving an open hole in your home for heated air to escape from.
What about my windows? Windows can be one of the biggest reasons for energy loss. If you have older windows, consider putting in storm windows to give your home another layer of protection. If storm windows aren’t an option, consider putting up window insulation film.
Change your furnace filters. When was the last time you looked at the filter on your furnace? This is the entryway of the heated air into your home, so if it’s dirty and hasn’t been replaced in a while it can be causing your furnace to work harder than it needs to!
Upgrade your insulation. Have you looked at the insulation in your attic or your crawlspace or basement lately? Chances are, you’ll find settled blown-in insulation or batting that hasn’t effectively sealed your home. You have quite a few options here: add more insulation (top off) if your attic has blown-in insulation and it’s in good shape or you can investigate options for higher performing insulation such as spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation will fill every nook and cranny, ensuring to effectively seal the warm air inside your home. Homes that have upgraded to spray foam insulation save up to 50% on their energy bills!
These 5 hacks to winterize your home will not only help your wallet this winter, but it will also help your comfort level in your home! If you’re not sure what your home needs, find a local expert to come out and perform an Energy Audit on your home – most insulation companies will do so for free.
Still have questions about your home or project that you would like some help with? Contact us today!
Superior Insealators is an ABAA (Air Barrier Association of America) Certified Insulation Contractor.
