Electricity and oil prices have been rising gradually for years; this pattern is anticipated to continue. Before winter sets in, take action to reduce costs by weatherproofing your home.
Apply Weatherstripping
The gaps around your doors and windows are where your home loses most heat throughout the winter. Airflow between window and door frames can be sealed using weatherstripping. Wood, aluminum, vinyl, or bronze are just a few of the materials that may be used to create weatherstripping. Install weatherstripping on all external doors and windows, including the garage door. Weatherproofing should also be done on doors leading to areas in your home that are seldom used and where the heating vent is often closed.
Different doors feature underneath air gaps of varying sizes. However, the threshold at the base of the door is one place that cannot be covered with weatherstripping. Purchase door sweeps constructed from more robust materials.
Embrace Caulk
The other substantial air leakage happens via the spaces between siding and other construction components and foundation fractures in your home. Insulation is not enough to combat this. Use caulking to make sure that no chilly air from the outside enters your house.
Look around your house and identify any openings or cracks that could let outside air in. Find the foundation’s fractures both inside and outside. Pay close attention to any gaps in the construction materials, including where ceiling beams and pipes meet the wall. Check where the siding meets windows, doors, or chimneys.
Check Your Heater
Get a professional heater examination to determine if a new, energy-efficient furnace is appropriate for your house. Older heaters do a poor job of converting energy into heat. They cause significant energy waste and skyrocketing heating bills. Using modern, energy-efficient heaters can reduce utility costs by 60%. Depending on your chosen model, recent technology has increased heating efficiency from 50% to a staggering 80% to 95%.
Although there are less expensive options, an ultrahigh efficiency furnace offers benefits that surpass the price. Your energy savings will balance out an annual service contract in a single year. Recent, high-quality furnace models will last 20 to 25 years, the equivalent of a free 20-year service contract.
Clean Your Carpets
Have your home’s carpets cleaned while weatherproofing your house. Your carpets can trap dust mites, allergens, and other particles throughout the year, leading to a winter of coughing and sneezing. Hire a carpet cleaning company to rejuvenate and revitalize the carpets in your house.