How to Keep Your Home Warm Without Spending Thousands of Dollars
Each year homeowners spend more on heating their homes than they should. This is because there are several ways that heat can escape your home. There are dozens of thermal escape routes that can make heating your home difficult and inefficient. Here are seven most common ways that your home can be winterized.
Access hatches
The hatch that has a pull-down ladder leading to your attic is one of the biggest causes of heat loss in your home. These can be winterized by weather-stripping the edges and insulating the top side of the door. Stairs leading to your basement can benefit from similar weather-striping.
Recessed lights, electrical outlets and wiring
This is another area in your home that can lead to massive heat loss. To resolve this issue, you must use high-temperature caulking to fill any gaps around your fixture. Replace any cracked light switch cover or electrical outlet cover.
Plumbing
Your plumbing can be a conduit for more than just water. Cold air can get into your home through the spaces and opening that your pipes go through to get into your home. These should be sealed with caulking foam insulation.
Fireplace and wood stoves.
If you supplement your home's central heating and air with a fireplace or wood stoves, you could be missing another major source of heat loss. Make sure the damper is not damaged or air conditioning covers missing parts. One good way to do this is to light a small piece of paper on fire. Smoke that goes up a closed flu would mean that you will need to repair your flue dampers.
Windows and Doors
Windows and Doors can be a very big escape route for your home's heat. You should weather-strip doors, caulk any gaps around your windows, and put insulating plastic in front of your windows. Another idea to help retain as much heat as possible is to use a door snake. These are long strips of insulated fabric that sit in front of your doors to help prevent drafts from entering your home when it is windy.
Wall mounted air conditioner units
This is your biggest source of heat loss. Your air conditioner needs be removed when the temperature outside does not go above 50 degrees. If this is impossible, then you will need to winterize the unit using insulated air conditioner covers or plastic. The best way to do this is to use a through the wall air conditioner cover that will block the wind. These air conditioning covers can be easily installed. There are many brands such as Breeze Blocker that will last for several winters.
Access hatches
The hatch that has a pull-down ladder leading to your attic is one of the biggest causes of heat loss in your home. These can be winterized by weather-stripping the edges and insulating the top side of the door. Stairs leading to your basement can benefit from similar weather-striping.
Recessed lights, electrical outlets and wiring
This is another area in your home that can lead to massive heat loss. To resolve this issue, you must use high-temperature caulking to fill any gaps around your fixture. Replace any cracked light switch cover or electrical outlet cover.
Plumbing
Your plumbing can be a conduit for more than just water. Cold air can get into your home through the spaces and opening that your pipes go through to get into your home. These should be sealed with caulking foam insulation.
Fireplace and wood stoves.
If you supplement your home's central heating and air with a fireplace or wood stoves, you could be missing another major source of heat loss. Make sure the damper is not damaged or air conditioning covers missing parts. One good way to do this is to light a small piece of paper on fire. Smoke that goes up a closed flu would mean that you will need to repair your flue dampers.
Windows and Doors
Windows and Doors can be a very big escape route for your home's heat. You should weather-strip doors, caulk any gaps around your windows, and put insulating plastic in front of your windows. Another idea to help retain as much heat as possible is to use a door snake. These are long strips of insulated fabric that sit in front of your doors to help prevent drafts from entering your home when it is windy.
Wall mounted air conditioner units
This is your biggest source of heat loss. Your air conditioner needs be removed when the temperature outside does not go above 50 degrees. If this is impossible, then you will need to winterize the unit using insulated air conditioner covers or plastic. The best way to do this is to use a through the wall air conditioner cover that will block the wind. These air conditioning covers can be easily installed. There are many brands such as Breeze Blocker that will last for several winters.