Easy Ways to Try and Prepare your Home for Winter
Winter is just around the corner. For this reason, it is more important than ever for you to prepare your
home. If you want to get some great hints and tips then you can find out everything you need to know
right here.
home. If you want to get some great hints and tips then you can find out everything you need to know
right here.
Invest in Weather Stripping
You need to start out by checking your home’s doors and windows for any cold air leaks. If you want to
do this then you can easily use an infrared thermal gun. This will help you to detect any leaks instantly
and it will also save you a lot of time. If you aren’t able to invest in something like this then you can
easily move a lit candle around the door frame. The flame will blow towards you when there is any kind
of breeze. If you do know that you have a draft then you need to use some weather stripping. This is
very easy to get hold of and you can even get some at your local hardware store. This will come with its
own set of instructions, so you have nothing to worry about at all there.
do this then you can easily use an infrared thermal gun. This will help you to detect any leaks instantly
and it will also save you a lot of time. If you aren’t able to invest in something like this then you can
easily move a lit candle around the door frame. The flame will blow towards you when there is any kind
of breeze. If you do know that you have a draft then you need to use some weather stripping. This is
very easy to get hold of and you can even get some at your local hardware store. This will come with its
own set of instructions, so you have nothing to worry about at all there.
Door Sweeps
Believe it or not, door sweeps are fantastic at stopping any draft from entering your home. A sweep is
essentially a piece of rubber, but it can also be plastic. It is fixed onto your door’s lower edge and this is
usually done via a strip of aluminium. This will stop any additional heat from escaping your home and it
will also help you to stay on top of your energy bills.
essentially a piece of rubber, but it can also be plastic. It is fixed onto your door’s lower edge and this is
usually done via a strip of aluminium. This will stop any additional heat from escaping your home and it
will also help you to stay on top of your energy bills.
Fix Any Attic Air Leaks
If you have gaps in your attic then this could cause as much as 30% of your heated or even your cooled
air to leak out into the great outdoors. This can make your energy bills cost hundreds more, not to
mention that your boiler will also be working overtime. If you aren’t sure if you have an attic issue or not,
then you can pull back the insulation. If you see any cutouts or holes then fill these in. You also need to
look out for any electrical fixtures, pipes, fans and outlets. Holes may have appeared around these and
they may also cause you to lose out on energy. If you want a quick fix, then expanding foam is a
fantastic option.
air to leak out into the great outdoors. This can make your energy bills cost hundreds more, not to
mention that your boiler will also be working overtime. If you aren’t sure if you have an attic issue or not,
then you can pull back the insulation. If you see any cutouts or holes then fill these in. You also need to
look out for any electrical fixtures, pipes, fans and outlets. Holes may have appeared around these and
they may also cause you to lose out on energy. If you want a quick fix, then expanding foam is a
fantastic option.
Smart Thermostats
Programmable thermostats remain to be one of the best ways for you to save energy when the colder
weather hits. A programmable thermostat can save you a small fortune in fuel costs, not to mention that
it can be lowered or raised accordingly as well. WiFi enabled thermostats are very popular, but if you
can’t afford one of these then it is very easy for you to find one that does not come with this as an option.
You can also set the temperature on your thermostat manually if required.
weather hits. A programmable thermostat can save you a small fortune in fuel costs, not to mention that
it can be lowered or raised accordingly as well. WiFi enabled thermostats are very popular, but if you
can’t afford one of these then it is very easy for you to find one that does not come with this as an option.
You can also set the temperature on your thermostat manually if required.
Hot Water Heaters
You can save on fuel by wrapping an older water heater up in insulation. This is a very easy DIY
project and a beginner can do it. Your utility company will probably give you some instructions to help
you with this. When you are insulating a gas or even a propane water tank, you need to make sure that
you do not cover the burner access panel. If you have a water heater that has already been insulated,
then you have to make sure that you don’t do it again. You also need to check your instructions to make
sure that your heater does not warn against insulation as well. Of course, tankless heaters should not be
insulated either.
project and a beginner can do it. Your utility company will probably give you some instructions to help
you with this. When you are insulating a gas or even a propane water tank, you need to make sure that
you do not cover the burner access panel. If you have a water heater that has already been insulated,
then you have to make sure that you don’t do it again. You also need to check your instructions to make
sure that your heater does not warn against insulation as well. Of course, tankless heaters should not be
insulated either.
Hot Water Temperatures
Usually, hot water heaters tend to be set at a certain temperature. It is more than possible for you to
lower the temperature on your own. When you do this, you can take advantage of the savings and you
can also lower the cost of running your system in winter too. The water will still be more than hot enough
for washing, bathing, doing the dishes and anything else you need.
lower the temperature on your own. When you do this, you can take advantage of the savings and you
can also lower the cost of running your system in winter too. The water will still be more than hot enough
for washing, bathing, doing the dishes and anything else you need.
Pipes
Foam sleeves can easily be snapped onto the pipe in your basement or even in your crawl space. You
can find them at most hardware stores. Before you go, make sure that you get the dimensions of your
pipes so that you can choose the right ones. Cold water pipes should also be insulated 3 feet after they
enter the house. The main reason why you have to do this is because if you don’t then your pipes may
freeze and this is the last thing you need at Christmas.
can find them at most hardware stores. Before you go, make sure that you get the dimensions of your
pipes so that you can choose the right ones. Cold water pipes should also be insulated 3 feet after they
enter the house. The main reason why you have to do this is because if you don’t then your pipes may
freeze and this is the last thing you need at Christmas.
Thieves
With the festive season coming up, it’s important that you try and keep your home as safe as possible.
Thieves tend to operate most around this time of year because they know that people are going to be
spending the most money. For this reason, you need to try and be careful where you put your recycling.
Don’t leave a huge TV box right outside your house as this will advertise the fact that you have just
received a new one. You may also want to look into a security system as well. When you do this, you
can then feel confident knowing that even when you go out of the house, you are still protected. If you do
want to get a security system installed, then now is the perfect time. You will be all set up in time for
Christmas and it can also give you a lot of peace of mind as well. See page to find out more about
that.
Thieves tend to operate most around this time of year because they know that people are going to be
spending the most money. For this reason, you need to try and be careful where you put your recycling.
Don’t leave a huge TV box right outside your house as this will advertise the fact that you have just
received a new one. You may also want to look into a security system as well. When you do this, you
can then feel confident knowing that even when you go out of the house, you are still protected. If you do
want to get a security system installed, then now is the perfect time. You will be all set up in time for
Christmas and it can also give you a lot of peace of mind as well. See page to find out more about
that.
So there are many things that you can do to try and prepare your home for the winter weather and when
you follow the above tips, you know that you will have absolutely no problems in getting everything
ready once and for all. You can also make sure that your home stays as safe as possible as well, and
this is crucial when Christmas comes along.
you follow the above tips, you know that you will have absolutely no problems in getting everything
ready once and for all. You can also make sure that your home stays as safe as possible as well, and
this is crucial when Christmas comes along.
