How often have you wondered why it’s so cold in your house? The heat is on, the thermostat is set appropriately, and you are dressed warmly. Yet, there’s always a draft indoors.
Preparing your home for winter is a must to ensure warmth, reduce air leaks, increase comfort, and enhance energy savings – particularly if you live in an older home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11% on total energy costs) by air-sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics and crawl spaces.
Winterization can go a long way in maintaining warmth and comfort all season long. Sealing leaks and cracks in your home's exterior is the first step in preparing it for a cold front.
Sealing & Insulation
Whether you’re hiring a weatherization expert to test your home for leaks and gaps or taking the project on yourself, be sure to check these tasks off your winterization list this month.
- Seal air leaks around doors and windows to keep the cold air out as much as possible.
- Regularly check the dryer vent to clear any dust and debris.
- Consider installing double-pane windows to prevent air leakage when it’s time to replace windows.
- Caulk all gaps around plumbing or electrical wiring, chimneys, and recessed lights.
- Inspect the insulation in the attic space and wall cavities and identify gaps.
- Wrap exposed pipes with insulation to prevent freezing.
For more tips and resources on winterization, check out Energy Star’s guide to sealing and insulating at home.
Thermostat
- Check heating vents throughout the home to ensure they are fully open and unblocked.
- Optimize your thermostat during winter by setting it around 68 degrees, which is considered the most energy-efficient while still maintaining comfort.
- Keep curtains and shades open throughout the day to let the natural sunlight into your home to further retain heat.
- Reverse the direction of ceiling fans in each room to circulate warm air downwards.
