The winter season is the best time of the year to check your home’s energy efficiency because the elements are bound to put it to the test. Many of the states across the U.S. experience sub-zero temperatures during the coldest months of the year.
Prepping your home for the different seasons is one of the most important responsibilities of homeowners. Winterizing your house is the best way to make sure you and your family stay comfortable and safe while Jack Frost does his seasonal dance. Prepping ahead of time for the winter months is a great way to save money and ensure your home is ready when the cold air returns. Continue reading to get some winter tips that will keep your house cozy and energy-efficient during the winter months.
1. Upgrade your HVAC system.
If you’ve recently added an addition to your house, you may notice that the part of your house you added on is harder to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. When you have a central air conditioning system and you add on to your home, one of the problems you’ll run into is installing ducts and vents in your addition. Add-ons also tend to experience cold drafts during the winter and hold warm air during the summer.
It’s a given that keeping your home warm is a priority through the winter, so many people use space heaters to bring warmth to additions. However, HVAC systems are much safer and more energy-efficient than space heaters. Another great thing about a ductless HVAC unit is that it delivers cold air as well as warmth, meaning there’s no need to run a space heater during the winter months and an energy-draining window AC unit during the dog days of summer.
2. Allow natural light to shine throughout your home.
We have the greatest heating system in the galaxy in the form of the sun. By letting some natural light shine into your home, you can raise the temperature and lower your heating costs at the same time.
Natural light is one of the greatest resources. A skylight can make a small bathroom feel larger and make a small floor space in the middle of a cold room feel like a cozy, luminescent fireplace. Whether you’re trying to make a small space feel larger or bring some natural warmth to a room, adding a skylight and letting natural light filter through is a great start.
3. Replace windows and caulk windowsills.
If you notice you have a draft flowing through a particular room in your house, chances are your windowsills could use caulking. The good news is that it’s a simple fix that could help keep your house much warmer and help to lower your energy bills. Don’t stop at putting caulk on your windowsills—inspect every seam, corner, and crevice in your house to ensure there are no cracks where air can enter your home.
Replacing your windows is one of the best ways to lower your energy bill and keep your home warm during the winter season. Windowsills crack and warp with time, and eventually, your windows will allow air to flow into and escape your home. If you haven’t replaced your windows within the last 10 years, it’s time to upgrade to some new energy-efficient panes.
4. Cooking warms the home and the hearts in it.
Do you want to know the best way to warm your home and the hearts in it? With food! Cooking hearty wintertime meals not only raises the mercury in the kitchen but in the entire home as well.
During the winter season, prepare hot, hearty meals for your family that will warm their bodies and their spirits. You’d be amazed how something as simple as preparing meals with your family can bring you closer together and provide you with the kind of warmth that emanates from within.
