Home Improvement Tips To Get You Ready For Winter
Do you live in a region where "old man winter" comes to visit every year? If so, then you understand the increase in your energy bills that accompany this visit. If you find that it is costing you a small fortune to heat your home during the winter months, you are not alone. Luckily, there are measures that you can take to help your home retain its heat during this cold time. This article will give you some great tips to help you stay warm during the winter.
Windows can let in a lot of cold air during the winter. Replacing your windows is really the best way to fix this problem. The government gives rebates on certain brands of energy efficient windows to help make this a little more affordable. If replacing your windows is just not an option there is another solution that you can use. Sealing up your windows with plastic can really help to keep cold air out. They make special plastic that is clear in color so that it does not show, and this also enables you to enjoy the views of outside without the draft. They are fairly easy to install, and all that you really need is a hairdryer. The heat from the hairdryer helps to tighten your seal up. This is really an effective way to prevent cold air coming in through your windows.
Another culprit that allows in the cold air is your doors. Any doors that go to the outside, a garage or basement can end up letting in quite a bit of a draft. Just as the government will give you a refund for purchasing energy efficient windows, they will cover doors as well. Installing a new door that fits tight can really be effective at keeping the heat in your home. You can help to combat this problem by purchasing door sweeps for the bottom of your doors. This will keep the cold air from sneaking in through the underside of the door. If you find that cold air is also sneaking in through the sides of the door, you can fix that too. Buying weather stripping and placing it all around the door can help to keep some of that cold air out.
If you find that your furnace is not working very well, it might be a good time to replace it. A furnace that is in good working order will be able to heat your home up quickly, and will not need to kick on nearly as often. It is a pricey investment to make, but one that will end up paying for itself with the amount of money you will save on your heating bill. If you notice that your furnace is not doing a good job this year and it is not in your budget to replace it right away that is okay. You can use the spring, summer and fall to save up for a new furnace for the following winter. The last thing that you want is for your furnace to go on a really cold night.
Winter can be a fun and beautiful time of year, but can also bring high heating costs too. By using the tips from this article, you should be able to protect your home to keep "old man winter" outside where he belongs.
