Buttoning up your home to protect it from winter’s chill not only increases your indoor comfort, it also cuts your heating costs. Every task you do and improvement you make helps you retain more heat indoors, which reduces the load on your heating system. Each of these recommendations, big and small, will make a difference.
Homeowner Chores
Hang the storm windows if you use them in lieu of dual pane windows. They will keep out many of the cold drafts, as well as adding a layer of insulation between you and the outdoors.
Look over the weatherstripping for the exterior doors. If you can see daylight coming between the door and the frame during the day, it needs to be replaced. Before heading to the home center, take a picture or a sample from existing weatherstripping to help you choose the best replacement. Follow the instructions when replacing it for the best adhesion.
Check the damper for the fireplace. Test whether it has a tight fit by looking for daylight when peering up the chimney. You may need to ask your fireplace professional or chimney sweep for a replacement, order a new one, or obtain an inflatable chimney pillow. A tremendous amount of heated air goes up the chimney if there’s a damper leak
Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency
Home improvements that keep your home warmer and cut energy costs dramatically include thermal or Energy Star windows, attic insulation and weatherized exterior doors.
- Windows. Even if your home has dual- or triple-pane windows already, they may not be as effective as they once were. Over time, the seals between panes lose their weaken and windows lose their vacuum. It’s the vacuum that prevents the heat transfer between the glass and the outdoors. Without it, your windows will lose heat whenever the temperature indoors exceeds the temperature outside.Installing new windows isn’t a job for the do-it-yourselfer. Care needs to be taken not to break the seals through handling. The windows have to be hung perfectly level, and there can’t be air leaks that could let water or cold air infiltrate into the home’s exterior.
- Insulation. Ideally, you should have 41 to 51 inches of insulation in the attic to prevent the heat from radiating out through the roof. If you’ve had ice dams in years past, increasing insulation could be one of the most important home improvements you do to protect your home’s structure.
- Exterior doors. Installing insulated doors not only makes your home more energy efficient, it’s one of the home improvements that pays off when you sell your home. The front door is the first impression home shoppers make about the home. An energy efficient and attractive door will help you in the short term by cutting heating bills and in the long term by adding value.
When it comes to home improvements, those that save energy and enhance its appearance add value. More importantly, they increase your comfort and enjoyment of home without straining your heating bills.
Whether you’re including these improvements in a home renovation or are considering your list of features to add in your custom built home, Alair Homes is here to help. We’ll work with you to find creative ways to make your home more energy efficient while delivering on our promise of transparency and communication. Contact us to talk about your project during a complimentary, no obligation consultation.