The electricity bills spike up during the cold winter months generally. And every homeowner tries to search for ways to save money on the power bills by turning down the thermostat and learning to cope up with the cold. But there are certainly other ways to decrease the bill amount while keeping the home warm by sealing out the cold air from getting in from outside the house. Weatherizing your home can substantially help you in cost saving.
Keep reading to find how –
Step 1.
Identify the area where the cold air is leaking inside the house from out. Some of the common places are the door, window frames, pipelines, phone lines, mail chutes, the entrance of electrical wires and gas connection, air conditioners, vents, TV cables, dryer vents, ventilation fans, or even through the crack in the foundation.
Step 2.
Seal all the cracks in the foundation, electrical and gas service areas, leaks around the pipes, ceiling fixtures with a mixture made with caulk or putty.
Step 3.
Weatherstripping –
Apply the weather stripping to seal all the windows and door frames. Check the directions on the packaging to ensure you do the stripping perfectly to seal any gaps. Make sure to take the right measurement of the window and door frames. For windows – take the top and bottom side of the window sash and for doors – measure the entire door frame. Apply reinforced foam weather stripping on the bottom of the exterior of the doors.
Door Sweeps
Alternatively, install a door sweep, door shoe, or threshold on the door to block the cold air from sweeping inside. Measure the length of the door when it is closed and cut the sweep to the size you need to ensure the right fitting.
There are varieties of door sweeps such as heavy-duty, drip-cap, or brush sweeps. Discuss with a glass and window expert to determine the best one for your home.
Foam Tape
Another great way of weatherproofing is using foam tape. Cut out the tape to the required size and secure it along with the places that have a draft to stop the cold air from entering inside.
Insulated Curtains
There are various types of thermal curtains available in the market that helps to retain the heat in the winter.
Door Snake
Door snakes are the weighted fabric tubes that are placed at the bottom of the door and help in preventing the cold air from getting inside. As an alternative to the door-snake, a rolled-up towel can also do the same function. This is a simple DIY that you may use to stop the cold air from sweeping inside.Tip – Single-pane units in windows do not have air pockets and allows the heat to pass through the glass. Double-pane windows or insulated glass units (IGUs) can be also be used. Double-pane windows have air pockets between their panes that diffuse heat transfer. It helps in reducing window conductivity and result in a better-insulated home.