No doubt with fall weather upon us, you’re pulling out your coats, boots, and sweaters to prepare for the cooler months ahead, but is your home ready? Here are five easy hacks for prepping your property for the cold weather.
Inspect your insulation
If your insulation needs work, your house will leak warmth and the rest of your heating efforts will be moot. Take a look at your insulation for any necessary improvements; it may be worth looking into a qualified assessor. This will cost a small fee but could be invaluable when keeping your home warm this winter.
Seal gaps and cracks
Plan an afternoon to scour your home for any cracks and gaps. For a fairly inexpensive price, you can purchase gap filler from your local hardware store and cover any areas you see where heat may escape. It may even be worth purchasing draft stoppers for roughly ten dollars a piece, to help prevent drafts from coming in through back entrances.
Use your windows wisely
A great deal of heat is transferred through you the glass windows and doors in your home. The sun is the most natural and cost-effective way to heat your home during the day, so be sure to keep the curtains on all sun-facing windows and doors open throughout the day so UV light can shine through and warm your home.
Provided you’ve ensured your home is well-insulated, this natural UV light can help keep your home warm well into the night when you can then close the curtains and keep the heat in.
To prevent heat from escaping, cover windows and doors with thick, thermal curtains. Thermal curtains can be purchased at your local home design store and act as a more efficient means of preventing heat from escaping.
Add some cushion to your floors
If your home is primarily made up of wood flooring or concrete base, you may lose a lot of heat.
Carpeting is the best option for insulation, however, it’s time-consuming and costly to install. An easy alternative is the area rug. Add large, fluffy rugs and mats throughout your home to dramatically decrease heat loss through your flooring.
Focus on smaller spaces
Ultimately, your goal this winter is to keep you and your family warm, not necessarily your entire home. To save costs, focus on heating the smaller areas where you spend the most time in.
Consider purchasing a small space heater, which can be affordable if you’re only wanting to heat a small space. Ensure doors to those areas are closed to seal heat in, and place throws and blankets around the home, on couches, and on beds. Take a step further and use a smart system to control your central heating, scheduling them to turn on an hour before you get home.
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