Heat loss is a common enemy to a warm home during cold weather months. Not only does it cause immediate discomfort to residents but it also increases energy costs. To prevent this from happening, you can have a heating installation or furnace repair from the trusted heating services near you. It’s important to prepare your home for the cold season to reduce the movement of the warm air from inside the home to the outside environment.
Keeping your home warm is a top priority in freezing temperatures, but saving energy and money is just as important too. Here are some simple ways to reduce heat loss in your home during the cold weather months:
1. Hanging Heavy Curtains
Curtains can add to the aesthetic value of your home, but they can also keep the heat inside your home. Try to use heavier curtains that are in a darker color. Dark, heavy curtains absorb sunlight, so they warm up your room. They also block the wind that may blow through the small cracks in your walls or windows. It’s also wise to buy a small heater if you only need extra heat in one room.
2. Caulking Around Windows
Image via Flickr by Jason the Judge
Caulking is not only easy but also cheap. If you have a leaky window, caulk around its exterior perimeter. Also, according to a reputable caulking company in Edmonton, AB, you should caulk the crack between the wall and the interior trim to seal it, as this is where air leaking around your window frame will most likely enter your house.
3. Using a Door Snake to Block Drafts and Air Loss
If you don’t want to mount anything to your doors or place a permanent draft excluder, you can use a door snake. A door snake is a draft stopper made from stuffed cloth, typically with a weight inside to make sure it won’t move unless you want it to. It’s ideal for windows and interior doors, but you can use it everywhere it’s needed. Door snakes do not only keep the cold air out but also reduce noise and keep insects out of your house. Then there are also steps you can take to insulate doors better, such as adding an around door seal which makes them much better at keeping heat in the room.
4. Insulate the Attic
If your attic is not well insulated, it’s difficult to conserve energy during winter. Poor attic insulation causes warm air to escape, forcing your furnace to operate more to eliminate cold air. Thus, you should properly insulate your home’s attic. If the insulation material such as foams, aluminum or fiberglass in your attic are not sufficient or if the material is damaged, you should add more material or replace it as soon as possible to prevent heat loss. You should also insulate doors that lead to the attic.
5. Well-Planned Landscaping
A well-planned and thoughtfully designed landscape around your house will cut your heating and cooling costs. Plant evergreen shrubs around the north and northwest area of your house, as well as the entry. Evergreen shrubs help block cold winds and drafts. Be careful, however, not to place evergreens close to the south side of your home to prevent shading the sun’s heat in the winter.
To prevent heat loss in cold weather months, you should focus on the insulation to prevent air leakage and infiltration. Reduced heat loss, decreased energy consumption, and energy savings during the winter will help your home be more comfortable and save money during these hard times.
If you’d like to get more information on heating systems, be sure to check this post about COMMERCIAL HEATING SYSTEMS | INSTALLATION, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE.