Ways to Keep Your Home Warm this Winter

Depending on where you live, winter can unfortunately mean a cold home and less comfort. It can also mean that it’s the time of year for sky-high energy bills. This is especially true if your house has lots of air leaks, poor insulation, and dirty air filters, to name a few things. Luckily, there are things that you can do to keep your home nice and warm, and you do them while promoting a greener environment.

This winter, keep your house warm, your energy costs lows, and your comfort level high with our tips:

Seal gaps and cracks. One of the main reasons for heat loss in your home is gaps and cracks in your windows and doors. They are especially evident if you own an older home. You should seal and plug all of the gaps and cracks by using weather stripping. Try using a gap filler to seal any cracks in the walls. You can also seal the edge of all window sills with a water resistant sealer. Also, use door snakes at the bottom of doors. A rolled-up towel can suffice for an effective door snake.

Install insulation. A home that is well-insulated can save almost half as much for heating and cooling your home, so it makes sense to install insulation. You can either do it yourself or hire a home contractor to do it for you. It will be well worth it since insulation will pay for itself in the form of low energy bills.

Cover windows with heavy curtains. Since a great deal of heat escapes from your home through uncovered windows, use heavy curtains. Lined curtains work even better to insulate the windows and keep the warmth in your home.

Replace air filters in your central heating/cooling system. Dirty air filters and dust accumulation around the filter slot can make your system sluggish, and it will have to work harder. To reduce energy and extend the life of the heater, replace the air filter and clean around the filter slot.

Insulate the pipes. In temperatures that are below freezing, it is crucial that pipes that carry water be insulated. You can wrap external hot water pipes with fiberglass insulation or lagging. You can also use pre-molded foam rubber sleeves to wrap the pipes.

Invest in heater maintenance. You should get your heater professionally services every two years. This will keep it running efficiently and extend its life. Or, invest in a replacement heater if it’s time for a new one.

Improvements to your home’s insulation and comfort level during the cold and hot months can raise your home value. Be sure to consider the advantages of knowing the true value of your home! You can obtain a free home valuation report from Neighborhood IQ to find out how much a property is worth. Also, the Home Loan Advisor can analyze your property, current market conditions, local market comps, and other variables in our proprietary algorithm, and match you with potential lenders.