Winter months are fast approaching, and keeping your home warm is a top priority. However, cutting out draught doesn’t have to be complex or costly.
Here are a few tips to remain cozy throughout winter while saving money:
Add Insulation
Warm air can easily escape your home in all directions, including through the walls, doors, floors, windows, and even the roof. Adding insulation throughout your loft can reduce heat loss by 25%. It’s also worth checking the walls and installing cavity or solid insulation if required. Other areas that need insulation in your home are around pipes and the basement. If you already have insulation, ensure it’s in good condition and up to the current standards. And, avoid over insulating –it’s expensive and can result in mold.
Install Storm Doors
A storm door is an extra outer door that’s meant to add protection in harsh weather. They are typically made from aluminum, wood, glass, or plastic, which are all great insulator materials. Some storm doors do more than keep your home warm. For instance, others come with interchangeable glass and insect screen panels to prevent flying insects and provide visibility. Installing storm doors will require some cash. Luckily, you can remortgage your home to raise money for home improvements. Calculate your mortgage using a mortgage calculator to find out how much you can borrow.
Caulk the Gaps
Little gaps around window and door frames, around chimneys, along the foundation, in corners, and where wires and pipes exit can let chilly air in the home, not to mention, sneaky rodents. To find out where leaky spots are, have someone blow a hair drier from outside through suspicious gaps, while you hold a lighted candle inside. Areas where the light flickers or goes off are letting in draught. Luckily, these are issues homeowners can fix on their own. Simply use a caulking gun to caulk over the leaks. If an area is exposed to water and other harsh outdoor elements, use permanently waterproof and crack-proof caulk. There’s also paintable caulk for areas that will need the caulk to match the color of the surrounding surface like around doors and windows.
Bubble Wrap Your Windows
Inefficient windows lose the most heat during winter, especially if yours are old. Replacing outdated windows can be expensive, thankfully, there’s a cheaper temporary solution. Covering your windows with bubble wrap is by far the easiest, fastest, and hassle-free way to reduce heat loss. This method works on all types of windows, especially those with irregular shapes that would otherwise be difficult to find insulating shades for.
Watch Your Thermostat
While it may be tempting to set the thermostat to higher temperature levels, doing so can only translate to higher energy bills. The recommended thermostat settings for winter are 68° F (20° C) if someone is at home during the day and 62° F (17° C) when you’re asleep at night or when you’re away from home. It’s easy to forget resetting the thermostat every time, but a programmable thermostat can make things easier. It comes with four pre-programmed settings that regulate your home’s temperature at all times –both in the winter and summer months.
Add Your Comment