You can reduce the amount your furnace and water heater need to work to keep you cozy by following a few of the 10 ways to elevate your home this winter.
1. Caulking
Caulking is an inexpensive way to stop the smallest leaks of warm air. Caulk is a combination of calcium carbonate, mainly from limestone, and minimal amounts of clay and silt. It comes in a tube with a narrow opening like toothpaste that you can use to close small gaps.
Take a tour of your home and look for gaps in window frames, siding, chimney vents, skylights door frames, and the foundation. If the gaps are large, you can use a spray foam sealer. You may use weatherstripping for large gaps, but calking is useful even for tiny leaks.
2. Seal Heating and Air-Conditioner Ducts
The ducts that carry the warm and cool air to different parts of your house may have small leaks in the corners. They need to be sealed with duct tape. If you can do it, fine, otherwise, have a professional seal your ducts.
3. Guard against Drafts
One of the main ways drafts travel around the house is under doors. You can buy soft tubes that cover the bottom of the door that stop the drafts. Another way is to roll up a towel and put it along the bottom of the door.
4. Fireplace Leaks
A fireplace is designed to suck the smoke up the chimney. If it is not in use, it will suck the heat right out of your home. To avoid this, close the damper when the fireplace is not in use.
5. Install Weatherstripping
Most houses are built with weatherstripping to make sure the doors and windows seal when they are closed. If your doors and windows don’t have weatherstripping, you are losing heat. It’s easy to do with weatherstripping tape.
6. Water Heater Jacket
If you touch your water heater and it feels hot or warm, it is losing heat. Since it is programmed to remain at a certain temperature, it will keep working as heat is lost. You can buy blankets of insulation that you can simply wrap around your water heater to stop heat loss.
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some home winterizing ideas to consider
7. Attic Insulation
Heat rises, and it will rise right out of any gaps in your attic. Insulating is not an easy job for a beginner.
To get it done right the first time, it’s better to have a professional do it. If you look at the Energy.gov website, you may find financial incentives and rebates to help reduce the costs.
8. Roof Repair
The roof is the single most important feature of your home. If it has even a hairline crack, water from rain or melted snow may be creating areas of moisture in your attic or upstairs ceilings.
Your best option is to call a professional roofing company in your area. It is important to invest in a reputable company. For example, if you live in Austin, searching for an Austin roofing company with good reviews to examine your roof and make any repairs needed will be essential.
Water damage is one of the worst perils a home can have. It will start to grow toxic mold in just a few days that will contaminate your indoor air quality and could be very expensive to have removed.
9. Programmable Thermostat
The lower the temperature in your home, the more energy you save. A programmable thermostat can be set to raise the temperature just before you come home and lower it when no one is in the house.
other valuable tips:
10. Furnace Check-up
If your furnace and water heater are not working properly, they will overwork. This will make them wear out sooner than they should and cost you extra for the unnecessary energy they produce.
To avoid this, have a professional check them every fall to make sure the filters are clean and they are running correctly. The same can be said for your air conditioning. Have it checked in early spring so you don’t lose it when the weather turns hot.
You may be surprised to learn how much a typical house leaks warm air during the winter. With these 10 tips, your home will be cozy and you may even reduce your energy consumption.
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Image credit: elevate your home this winter by twenty20.com
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