As we head into the cold winter months it becomes more important to find and eliminate those cold air drafts that cause you to shiver late at night. While you may be able to ignore them at first, as the temperature drops you mightfind yourself rummaging through your house trying pinpoint the cold air source. While these sorts of drafts can be irritating to say the least, the reality is that you could be drastically increasing your heating bill by ignoring those blasts of cold. It is wise to dedicate some time attending to these issues before they become a real problem. In fact, even if you don’t feel any drafts coming through your home, it is a good idea to double-check these areas to keep yourself warm this winter.
Doors – Doors are frequently a huge source of heat loss, especially if you live in a house that is older or in need of repairs. Go through your home and check all the doorframes of the doors that lead outside, paying special attention to the threshold of each one. In many homes with swing doors, you can see small bits of light peeking through the area between the threshold and the bottom of the door. That sort of gap should not be there at all. If you are unable to fix the threshold immediately, there are other solutions that will help cut down on your heating bill. One quick, easy solution is to roll up a thick blanket and place it at the bottom of your door when you are in for the evening. This simple little trick will go a long way to cut down on home air drafts.
Windows – Windows are another huge culprit and can create hundreds of dollars of extra electric charges. If you are not sure whether a window is drafty, you can hold a feather up to the window to see if it moves. If it does, take the time to install weather stripping or add caulk along the edges to seal out the draft. If you decided to use caulk, you want to make sure that you edge it correctly or you may unfortunately find the window sealed shut. If you don’t have access to weather strips or are worried about using caulk, you can always go for curtains or drapes. You can use one layer of fabric if it is especially heavy, or meant to seal out the cold, or you can go for a layered look.
Air Conditioners – Once the summer heat is over, it is wise to inspect the area around the air conditioning vent to insure a tight seal. If you have a window air conditioning unit, it is best to remove it for the winter so you can tightly close up the area around your window.
Fireplace – A crackling fireplace is great during the snowy months, but it is important to make sure that it is heating your home instead of making it colder. Check for drafts around the entire fireplace to make sure that the installation is still sound. Do not use regular caulk on your fireplace but choose high heat sealants instead that you can use to close up any drafty areas.
Additionally, make sure that you are closing your flue when you are finished with your fireplace every evening. Not only will an open flue send cold air straight into your home, it can also make an awful noise when it is windy. If you are not using your fireplace at all this winter, stuff the damper with either a rolled up piece of cloth or with insulation.
Look Outside –Once you have attended to the inside of your home, take a walk around the outside of your house and inspect it. Energy efficient windows will go a long way to decrease your energy bills. If you do not have energy efficient windows at this time, it is best to remove your screens and install storm windows for the winter season. If you can afford to replace your window with more energy efficient windows, not only will you save on heat, but you will also get an additional tax credit.
These are the main areas that you should check to reduce those chilly winter drafts in your home. There are a few more locations that you should pay attention to. If you have an attic, crawl space, or basement you should check that they are well insulated or completely sealed off from the main rooms. The same goes for unused rooms around your house. Take the time to add caulk around older light fixtures and fans and seal any cracks that may have appeared around your dryer vent as well. Call Air Conditioning Coral Springs for more tips on how to stay warm and cozy during these winter months, no matter what the temperature may be outside!
Call Air Conditioning Coral Springs at (954) 344-2530!