14 Ways to Winterize your home (Get Your Home Ready for Winter). Are you looking for the best ways to get your home ready for winter and reduce energy bills? These simple and effective ways will help to lower the cost of heating your home and will maximize the comfort for you and your family.
The cold season is fast approaching, so it’s time to start thinking about winterizing your home. Whether you live in a house, apartment, or student accommodation, the methods listed in this post will help improve the comfort of your space and heat your home for less helping you save money during the winter months.
The primary thing when preparing your home for winter is to make sure you have an ideal home. Moving to a good location with a moderate clime like Dallas, Texas, and living in a victory park condo would be an ideal choice for the cold season. Although, not everyone can afford to move the house every season, and that’s understandable, is best to make smart decisions and take off a few factors that can influence the comfort of your home.
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Winter home preparation checklist
Below we created a list with some great methods to get your home ready for the cold season without breaking the bank. Choose the ones that apply to you and if you have a tip, just comment below and let us know you prepare your home for the winter months.
14 Ways to Winterize your home (Get Your Home Ready for Winter)
1. Start with the Basics
Check your home’s insulation and weather stripping to ensure that heat isn’t escaping. This is one of the most important and cost-effective things you can do to winterize your home. A poorly insulated home is much harder and more expensive to heat during the winter. It forces you to keep the heater running as warm air escapes, driving up your energy bills.
2. Replace the old windows with new ones
Weatherstripping seals gaps around doors and windows, preventing cold air from entering. If the doors and windows are old with worn-out hardware, replacing them is a better option. Choose energy-efficient options, like double-paned windows, to further reduce heat loss.
3. Install storm doors and windows/ or shutters
Storm doors and windows are an important part of any home. They protect the interior against harsh weather conditions and help to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors. Shutters are often used as entrances to a home or garage and they provide protection from high winds, rain, snow, ice, and strong sun in the summer.
There are many different types of storm doors and windows that offer specific benefits for certain situations. These include:
– Low-E glass storm door: these doors come with low-emission glass which helps keep heat in during winter months
– Dual pane storm door: these doors come with two panes made out of insulated glass which helps prevent heat loss during winter months
– Hurricane-rated storm door: this type of door is designed to withstand high winds
– Curved top window: this type of window is designed for use in areas with high snowfall because it can be staked into the ground and curved upwards to prevent snow from accumulating on the outer surface of the window.
– Roller shutters that can be operated manually or automatic. These are usually made out of metal, or hard plastic material. They are durable and serve not only for keeping your home warm in the cold season but as an extra layer of protection against burglary.
4. Use Insulated Rug Pads to keep the floor warm in the winter months
Insulated rug pads are a great way to keep your floor and rugs warm and comfortable. They also help to prevent the rug from slipping on the floor. Installing insulated rug pads will improve the indoor temperature in the winter dramatically. If the price of insulated rug pads is too high for your budget, consider placing thick foam roll under the carpet and rugs, or cardboard.
When I moved into the apartment where I actually live my feet were freezing in the winter and I immediately come up with the idea to insulate the floor by installing one layer of Polyethylene foam roll and one layer of cardboard and placing thick rugs on top of that. After the indoor temperature increased by at least 2 degrees which allowed me to save money on the gas bill.
After 5 years, I still have that floor protection layer and my energy bill has never shocked me, even after the past few months when everyone is trying to find ways to lower their energy bills.
This simple insulation will last for years and is actually very cheap and provides amazing comfort for your floors. You should try it!
5. Tune Up The Heating System
Service the heating system before the winter season starts. The effort keeps it running efficiently and prevents breakdowns when you need it most. Replacing the air filter after every three months is also crucial. A clogged air filter makes the system work harder, wasting energy and driving utility bills.
An experienced technician will also check for gas and carbon monoxide leaks during a tune-up. They can also advise on a replacement if the unit is more than 15 years old, keeps breaking down, is expensive to repair, or doesn’t heat the home evenly.
6. Protect Pipes from Freezing
Water expands when it freezes. Frozen pipes often burst and cause extensive water damage. To prevent this, insulate exposed pipes in the basement, attic, and crawlspaces. Use foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves for this purpose.
If the water pipes run through an unheated space, keep a slow drip of water running through them during cold snaps. Don’t forget to check the location of the main shut-off valve in case a pipe bursts.
7. Keep the Fireplace in Good Condition
If you have a fireplace, get it inspected and cleaned before using it for the first time in the winter season. A certified professional will look for deterioration, blockages, and other hazards. An obstructed chimney is a leading cause of residential fires. It’s also important to have the right type of wood for burning. Hardwoods, such as oak and hickory, create long-lasting fires that allow you to enjoy the heat of a nice fireplace in the winter.
8. Check the Roof
A house roof is one of the most important parts that can seal or waste indoor heat. Making sure that your house roof is well maintained and free of cracks will lower the energy bills. Besides, a well-maintained roof will prevent leaking indoors during heavy rains, or snow conditions.
If the property you reside in is a rented one, contact the landlord or the estate agency and report immediately any roof damage you notice. Should they not take prompt action, you can offer to repair the roof yourself and deal with the repair cost later on with the landlord or the estate agency.
9. Inspect the Attic
Attics are another part of the house that needs proper attention in the winter. Improperly insulated attics lead to heat loss over the winter which can impact the energy bill quite a lot.
Some people believe that the build-up of snow on the roof helps insulate the home. Part of this theory is true, but snow is heavy on the roof, and because of its cold temperature, it can damage the materials meant to protect a home from moisture and extreme temperatures. The weight of the snow can lead to cracks on the roof which will seriously impact the protection layer of your home.
Check regularly the attic for mold and mildew, and then if possible, do a thermal scan to see where heat may be escaping the attic. To maximize the indoor heat, you can add a layer of Polyethylene foam roll on the attic floor. This way will prevent the heating to escape from the downstairs rooms. As you probably know, inside the house the heat builds and stops up to the ceiling. If your attic is properly insulated, as I advised above, it will prevent the heat to escape further.
10. Stock up on candles
There have been a lot of rumors that there will be power cuts this winter. Whether this might be true or not, is not a bad idea to stock up on a bunch of cheap candles. It can be scented candles or simple pillar ones. The most important thing is to last as long as possible. In case of an emergency, for example power cut, lighting a few candles in each room can increase the room temperature, creating a cozy and warm atmosphere.
11. Get a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat is one of the best ways to save money on heating costs. Set it to lower the temperature when you’re away or asleep, and raise it again when needed. Many models can be controlled remotely with a smartphone, making it even easier to save money. When used properly, a programmable thermostat can save you up to 10% per year on energy bills.
12. Check the basement and add a layer of insulation if necessary
Insulating your basement can be a great way to keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. There are many ways to insulate the basement, and it is important that you choose one that will work best for your home. A few simple ways to insulate the basement are by sealing cracks, installing new windows and doors, and adding a layer of insulation on the ceiling of the basement.
The best type of insulation would be polyurethane foam, as it provides good resistance to moisture, has excellent insulating properties, and can be easily installed.
Also, check for mold and the level of moisture in the basement. To keep the space mould free during the winter is best to buy a dehumidifier for the basement. Whether you choose an electric dehumidifier, or a basic moisture-absorbing dehumidifier, is vital to get rid of dampness for improving the air quality.
Another option is to place moisture-absorbing plants in the basement, but that won’t work if the temperatures drop below a certain point.
Poor indoor air quality can lead to serious health problems, therefore dealing with these kinds of issues promptly will improve the life quality to you and your family.
13. Install thick curtains
Investing in thick heavy curtains is another efficient way of reducing energy bills. Keeping the curtains at night will help trap the heat inside the room and not let it escape through the windows. Besides, good quality curtains will last for years and your investment will pay off over the years.
14. Deal With Problems As Soon as Possible
Dealing with problems in the middle of a snowstorm or when you can’t live without your heating unit is harder. By taking these steps now, you’ll avoid the rush and be prepared for whatever winter throws your way. Most importantly, have emergency contacts of different professionals, like a heating contractor, in case something goes wrong.
Final words
Getting your home ready for the cold season is something you should consider a few months before the temperatures start dropping. By doing that you will have plenty of time to deal with any problems that you find with the heating system, or repair the necessary bits that contribute to trapping the heat indoors.
And finally, consider an emergency fund for unexpected repairs which usually aren’t cheap at all. Save a little bit every month and don’t touch that money. Or buy home insurance that cover in the policy all the repairing bits of your home should you need to make a claim.
I hope these tips will help you make your home as comfortable as possible in the cold season and if you enjoyed these suggestions please share this post on social media. Thank you!
