Entering a warm home on a chilly fall or winter day is a great feeling. It’s not so great, however, when you go inside and immediately feel cold air coming from different directions. It can be frustrating to think that you’re spending money to heat your home, yet cold air is seeping in and causing your family to feel uncomfortable.
Here are some simple and inexpensive tips for keeping drafts out of your home this fall and winter:
Window and door frames
Check the seals around the frames to make sure there aren’t gaps where cold air can seep in (or warm air can get out). If you notice pockets of air loss, add caulking.
Also, be sure that latches/locks on window frames are clamped down securely to ensure air isn’t getting in. For exterior doors, consider adding a door sweep to prevent cold air from seeping in at the bottom.
Rugs
Cold air inside your basement can lead to cold and uncomfortable-to-the-touch flooring. To remedy this problem, add large throw rugs to your floors and runners in your hallways. These don’t just act as an insulating layer, they will also keep your feet warm and add an element of décor!
Chimneys
Schedule a chimney cleaning before the dead of winter to be sure yours isn’t filled with soot and outdoor debris. These obstructions could lessen the efficiency of your heating system, and they can also lead to dangerous situations such as trapping carbon monoxide (CO) gas inside your home.
Once your chimney has been cleaned and examined by a professional, if this is a notorious area of air loss in your home, consider having a chimney balloon installed. These are devices designed to expand inside your chimney and help to keep cold air out, and warm air inside.
Insulation
If you don’t have enough insulation at the top of your home, heat can easily escape and leave you in the cold. Cold air can also make its way inside via the same pathway. Have an insulation expert come to your home to inspect your attic space to be sure it’s properly insulated. Now is the best time to add insulation before bitter cold winter temperatures arrive.
Curtains
While it is a good idea to open your curtains during the day to let in natural sunlight and warmth, you should close them at night to keep the cold air out. It may also be a good idea to invest in thicker, insulated curtains to cover your windows in the evenings to trap the warm air in where it belongs.
Want more tips for keeping warm this fall and winter?
Check out these helpful tips from the U.S. Department of Energy.