Summer is ending, and while a few places across the United States are still heating up, preparations for the winter season are in full swing.
It’s too early to call just how cold this winter will get, but homeowners shouldn’t lower their guard before the temperature cools down. Here are the tips you need to stay warm before winter arrives:
1. Put up thick curtains
Cold air can enter your home through small gaps around your windows. Keeping them properly insulated helps to reduce the accumulation of cold air.
So when winter comes, make sure that you install thick curtains on your windows to prevent cold air from entering your home. The materials you might want to consider are heavy brocade or suede, which makes for an effective barrier against the cold. Just make sure that the curtains match the feel of the interior.
If you don’t have extra curtains lying around, you might want to put a draft excluder across the bottom of your windows to keep the chill-out.
2. Weatherstrip your doors, windows, and electrical installations
Aside from windows, the doors of your home can also act as entry points for cold air. Again, even the smallest gaps can cause your home to freeze over, so it’s always best to use spray foam to cover up any air leaks that might be present near your window and doors
Caulking can also help keep your home warm by closing up gaps that invite cold weather into your home. You might also want to apply caulk or foam on the edges of electrical boxes and outlets.
For your doors, make sure to install weatherstripping to stop any leaks that might be present, especially at the front door. For this, you just have to look for effective materials that let you seal those gaps for good.
There are several weatherstripping materials to choose from, but often the best ones are foam tape and door sweeps, which are great for closing gaps at the bottom of your door.
3. Keep your furnace in good condition
Your furnace is definitely your best friend throughout the winter. As such, it has to be kept in proper condition even before the fall season.
Regular maintenance is crucial to keep the furnace running smoothly. Along these lines, it’s always a good idea to have your furnace checked by a professional.
Cleaning your furnace is also important, so make sure to inspect it and see if it requires thorough servicing. Typically, you will want to replace the filters regularly to make sure it adequately heats up your home and prevent issues that might affect its capacity to provide adequate heat.
Worst case scenario, your furnace won’t perform like it used to, so you might need to look for a capable someone in your location to perform diagnostics and fix your furnace. If you’re in Ohio, for instance, you can always find the best Cincinnati furnace repair service within your area.
4. Install window film
Instead of replacing your windows with insulated ones, you might want to weatherize them instead by installing window film. This should properly insulate your windows and protect the interior of your home from chilly drafts.
When choosing the right window film for your home, opt for film insulation kits that are easy to install on your own. One thing’s for sure, insulating window film is the perfect option since it works well not just for high temperatures, but for low temperatures as well.
For added protection against the cold, you can always look to reinforce the panels with another layer of glass.
5. Replace your thermostat
Changing the thermostat in your home is something you simply can’t avoid, especially if you still use one that you can manually adjust.
Modern homes are already equipped with programmable thermostats that can automatically adjust indoor heating conditions to the optimum settings. These types of technology also come with zoned heating, allowing you to adjust the temperatures for specific areas in the house.
6. Get a humidifier
Before the temperature drops, you should be able to get your hands on a furnace-mounted humidifier.
Adding moisture to the air inside your home allows for adequate heating. The more humid it is, the warmer it feels. This should help you save energy and avoid adjusting your thermostat too frequently.
7. Revamp your furniture placement
As you wait for the first snowflakes to fall, you might want to consider rearranging your rooms and update the layout of your home. Certain furniture could block vents and passages through which warm air could seep through.
Other than being an easy way to keep your home warm, rearranging your furniture gives you the opportunity to update the bedroom and living to your liking — so long as the overall layout doesn’t hamper the heat.
8. Get a proper oil filled radiator
And do not forget to purchase at least a small heater for your home. Insulated windows and humidifiers can hold the cold, but where to get the heat from? The more watts – the better. But you should consider the size of the room and the power of your device.
In comparison with other home heating tips this one should be considered as the most crucial one. Thick curtains and window film will not provide you with decent warm airflow.”
Prepping your home in advance for the cold winter months makes sense as you wouldn’t want to get caught off guard when temperatures dramatically drop. What’s important here is that you already know what to do to keep the heat inside.