Keeping Your Home Warm this Winter

Keeping Your House Warm this Winter

Baby, it’s cold outside. Time to put a big, cozy warm blanket around your house. Following are some tips to help you stay warm this winter by keeping the heat where you want it, inside!

    1. Heating unit – Hopefully, you had your heating unit serviced last fall so it’s functioning now at optimum level. If not, have it serviced now because we still have several cold months ahead of us.
    2. Pipes – Double-check insulation around exterior pipes that are exposed to freezing weather to be certain they’re insulated and that water cannot seep under the insulation. Tape and repair loose or damaged insulation. Add more anywhere it’s needed.

  1. Doors – Insulate well around all exterior doors. Anywhere you see light coming in or feel cold air leaking through needs insulating. For larger spaces around the door, start by adding (nail or glue) wood pieces to the door or the frame to make a tighter fit. Then go to any home improvement store and buy weather stripping that can be easily cut and adhered to any smaller areas that don’t fit snugly.
  2. Electrical outlets – Put baby proofing inserts in all unused outlet covers, especially on exterior walls or any where you feel cold air coming through.
  3. Heating vents – Insulate around heating vents. These vents typically drop in over holes where the air ducts open into the room. These holes are often cut larger than the air ducts themselves and are open holes to the outside letting air flow unimpeded. Simply remove the vent covers to see if you have open space between the duct work and the cut opening. If so, fill the void with insulation or weather stripping.
  4. Attic stairs – Add insulation around attic stair openings. If the stairs don’t fit snugly, your heat (heat rises, remember) is pouring out of your home and into your attic through this space. Also add insulation above the stairs or the only thing between your heated home and the open attic is that thin piece of plywood.
  5. Windows – Close and lock all windows so they are shut as tight as possible. Insulate around any window spaces where you can feel air coming in. At night, close blinds and curtains to keep out as much additional cold air as possible.
  6. Fireplace – Have a fireplace? Best to have a glass screen that can be closed tightly when there is no fire. Open fireplaces are the same as leaving a door open. They create their own draft and literally suck heat out of your home and right up the chimney.
  7. Crawl space – Don’t close vents to crawl spaces. If you live where pipes can freeze and the floor becomes very cold, insulate pipes and under the floor. Vents play an important role in controlling condensation beneath a house and sealing them up can lead to mold.

What tips can you add?

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