Staying warm and saving money may be the goal of a lot of people this winter. With energy bills, family visits, airfare and all those holiday presents, the wintertime is a time for giving, but also a time for spending a lot of money. So, when you are trying to stay warm and comfortable, you want to find the best way to better insulate your home. This is why taking measures to weatherstrip your home is so important – it can save you money and it can be good for the environment. When you and your family are warm and cozy this winter, you can thank yourself for properly winterizing and weatherstripping your home. Here are five weatherstripping tips to keep you warm and save you money.
- Re-insulate your attic. Little do you know it, but your attic could be one massive energy leak. When you have your heater blasting, the warm air rises. If you don’t have enough attic insulation, the air will simply escape, which can force you to blast your heating for longer, thus costing you much more money. Not only that, but the hot air can melt snow and ice on the roof, which can cause a leak. If your attic is insulated, but you are still facing this problem, you may need to repair or replace furnace ducts or other components.
- Lay down carpets. Your floors may be a giant energy leak, but in older homes, hardwood and vinyl floors can show little tears and cracks where air can enter and escape. One of the best ways to remedy this problem is not to tear out your floors – the solution is simple: rugs. Large rugs can thoroughly insulate cold, hardwood floors and it can be a cozy addition to your home.
- Re-caulk your window frames and door frames. There is a good chance that your window and door frames have tiny leaks in them. Over time, a window or door frame can lose its position within a frame. Not only that, but old caulking and weather sealant can become dry and brittle. So, it is recommended to find individual leaks and then use caulk to seal them. If your windows are particularly old, you may need to reseal the entire window pane.
- Use outlet plugs to cover electrical outlets. When it comes down to it, electrical plugs can be one of the biggest energy leaks in your home. When you are trying to blast your heating system in the winter, you may notice cold areas around your outlets. If this is the case, be sure to purchase outlet plugs and seal up those leaks.
- Install weather strips at the bottom of your front or back door to your home. A door usually has a few inches of space below it. If this space is not covered, you could be dealing with some serious energy leakage. Simply install the weatherstrips and you won’t have to worry about these energy leaks – you’ll save money too.
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