Tips for A Warmer House This Winter

Brrrrr! In many parts of the country, it’s cold outside. Unless your home is properly insulated and protected against the winter chill, the temperature can dip inside, too. It’s important to winterize your home, not just to spare family members from being forced to wear layers, but also to save money on your utility bills.Many homeowners do the basics: they keep doors and windows closed. But there are many other things you can do to keep your home warm during winter, whether the house was built last year or in the 1800s. Below are some tips – both large and small projects – gleaned from MarthaStewart.com, The Daily Green, and CBS News:

• Check for gaps and leaks in moldings and baseboards by moving a lit candle around the edges of a closed window or door, and around baseboards. If the flame flickers and you discover a trouble spot, fill it in with caulk.
• If there are spaces beneath outdoor or basement doors, use a door sweep to prevent cool air from pouring in. You can create your own draft snake by rolling a bath towel and placing it under the door, and can even add eyes, felt tongues and other decorations. Another idea is to use scraps of fabric – even neckties – filled with sand or kitty litter.
• Check ducts in unfinished basements, garages, and crawl spaces by turning up your fan and holding a lit piece of incense next to the ducts. If smoke blows, indicating that air is escaping, hire a contractor or cover ducts with Mastic.
• Use a weather-stripping kit to prevent heat from escaping through an attic hatch.
• Buy covers to fit around recessed lights, or replace old bulbs with retrofitted LED recessed lights.
• If darkened insulation or cold spots indicate openings around pipes or wires in the attic, fill spaces with minimal-expanding weatherizing foam, and replace old insulation. If you can see your ceiling joists, your attic is not well insulated.
• Be sure to replace or clean furnace filters monthly during the cold season. Dirty filters restrict airflow, increasing energy demand. You can also switch to a permanent filter.
• Your entire heating system should get a professional annual inspection and tune-up, for both energy efficiency and safety.
• Add more insulation between walls, and make sure your basement ceiling and attic floor are well covered.
• Replace old, inefficient furnaces with modern, more energy-efficient models. Check with your accountant about tax credits for new furnaces.
• Run ceiling fans backward to re-circulate warm air that has collected near the ceiling.
• According to The Daily Green, installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by 45% because the door seals drafts and reduces airflow. Look for Energy Star-certified models.
• Every degree that you lower the thermostat during heating season saves you between 1 and 3% of your heating bill. Be sure to turn down the temperature whenever you leave the house, and consider installing a programmable thermostat that will automatically lower the heat at night or when the family is out of the house.
• Use a plastic window cover kit to cover drafty windows during the cold weather months.
• Dress warmly at home. Getting used to wearing a sweater around the house or throwing a blanket over you when you relax in the evening will help you keep temperatures in the house a little cooler, saving money.
• Plug outdoor gaps by sealing cracks with caulk on the perimeter exterior of your home.
• Consider one of the latest trends: zone heating in the home. By using devices that heat areas of the home where your family spends the most time, you can save on energy use.
• According to CBS, an average of 14% of your overall utility bill is spent on hot water. Wrap a water heater blanket around your water heater to insulate the water pipes. You can also consider installing a timer on electric water heaters.

You might not be able to implement every heat-inducing, energy-saving tip, but doing what you can around your home will keep your family warmer this winter, and help you save money on those ever-present utility bills.