Winter is a great time of year because we don’t have to deal with uncomfortable humidity and temperatures that soar, however, with it comes the cold weather. And with that, an increase in heating regardless what the resource it is. Of course, we all cringe at the thought that the cost of energy is going to rise once again with no end in sight, so we have to find solutions to cut our consumption yet still be comfortable. Below, learn how to reduce your energy bills this winter by draught proofing your home.
These beneficial tips will require a small effort as well as a small investment. Regardless of that, they will bring you great savings over many years, so it is a relatively small investment for the rewards that you will be granted. It all starts with careful observation to discover where heat loss is occurring.
One of the easiest ways to examine an area for heat loss is with the use of a lit candle. Be sure to use a candle holder as well to avoid dripping wax on clothing, furniture and flooring. Place the lit candle close to the surface taking care not to touch the flame to any fabric and such. If the flame moves, then there is a draught which means that there is heat loss. A good place to start is with all entry points as these cause of the most heat loss, more often than not.
Do the same thing around your window frames, clothes dryer and range hood exhaust, as well as light switches and electrical outlets. Once this is done, it is imperative to take the next step, that is to resolve the problem.
For the doors, you may need some foam insulation around the frame. Between the door jam and in the door itself, there may be some give which will be allowing heat loss. Resolve this problem with insulation strips. Opts for the best that you can afford as they will provide you with the best results and will undoubtedly minimize heat loss.
The window frames on the exterior side may need a fresh application of caulking as this will stop any air from penetrating. To further insulate the windows, invest in specially designed window kits.
As you may or may not have been aware of, exterior wall electrical outlets and switches can cause a lot of heat loss and so they must be insulated. There are products specifically designed to resolve this issue as well as foam sealants made just for it. What everyone must do to avoid heat loss is deal with all points of infiltration, regardless of how large or tiny they may be.