This time of year, winterizing your home should be something every homeowner moves to the top of their to do list. Knocking off your winter weather checklist can save you money on your electricity bill and help you avoid costly repairs. Winterizing your home doesn’t have to mean dropping big bucks on home renovations. There are several DIY home projects that can help you get your home in prime condition to battle mother nature’s winter wrath.
Winterizing Your Home Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
Even if you’re not the handiest around the house, replacing weatherstripping and caulking around windows and doors so it can be your home for summer is a great way to keep your windows properly insulated and save on those heating and cooling bills. When you’re choosing weatherstripping for a door or window. You want to make sure it allows the door or window to move freely while still forming tight a seal when everything is closed up.
Make Sure Your Installation Is up to Snuff.
Believe it or not, your attic does more than give you a place to stash those Christmas gifts you just don’t have the heart to throw away. Having a well-insulated should be the first thing on every homeowner’s winter weather checklist. Chances are it’s not your favorite thing to do, but before winter weather sets in, it’s a good idea to climb up there and have a look at your installation. You want to make sure the insulation is fully covering your attic. If you see any gaps or areas where the insulation is looking a little thin, it may be time to consult a professional to make sure everything is well insulated.
Installing a Smart Thermostat Could Be a Very Smart Move
Smart thermostats are basically supercharged programmable thermostats. They allow homeowners to have much more control over the temperature settings in their home throughout the day. Smart thermostats can learn what temperature patterns you like. You can control your thermostat remotely from almost any device capable of connecting to the Internet.
Because smart thermostats give homeowners so much more control over when to run their furnace and air conditioner, the energy savings will usually surpass the cost of the thermostat in less than two years. This is certainly not a bad investment when you consider you’ll be saving money, reducing wear and tear on your furnace and air conditioner and making your home more comfortable.
Is Your Furnace Ready for Mother Nature
it can be easy to forget about furnace maintenance until it’s too late. Especially, when we are just jumping into the winter season. Now is the time to make sure your furnace is clean and up to the task of keeping your home warm. Your furnace should be cleaned and checked at a minimum of one year.
You will also want to keep an eye on your furnace filter. If your filter isn’t clean, your furnace is going to be working harder and the air in your home is not going to be as clean as it could be. During cold and flu season keeping the air inside your home clean becomes even more important.
How often you change your filter depends upon the type of filter you have. Whether you have pets or not also impacts how frequently your furnace filter will need to be changed. It never hurts to take a peek. Simply, take your filter out and have a look at it. If it looks like it’s too dirty to get the job done it doesn’t hurt to pop in a replacement.
Watch out for Your Windows.
Windows can account for up to 25% of a home’s heat loss. There are plenty of energy-efficient windows on the market that can help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. However, if you don’t want to commit the time and money necessary to have energy-efficient windows installed, you do have other options. There are a variety of window films on the market that can improve a window’s overall energy efficiency.
There are window films for almost every budget. The do-it-yourselfer just looking to save a little extra can pick some up at the hardware store and install them on their own. At the other end of the spectrum, you can reach out to your local window pros and get high end energy saving films that closely mimic the effects of brand-new energy-efficient windows.
We Are Here To Help.
If all this talk about winterizing your home has got you thinking your garage could use a little TLC, reach out to us today. With family visiting over the holidays, and the storing of gifts and decorations, having a well organized garage becomes very important this time of year. Don’t make your life harder for yet another season. Reach out to our team today to see how we can make your garage better and your life easier.
Get Inspired with Your Free Garage Organization eBook from Garage Designs!
