Tips for a Warm Home Through the Cold Winter
Let’s face it… the beginning of the year in Atlanta can get pretty cold. The coldest temperature recorded was February 13th, 1899 reaching a low of -9 degrees. Since then, there have thankfully only been 8 days with temperatures below zero recorded in Atlanta. With the chilly weather on our minds and in our bones, we thought it would be a great idea to review some tips to keep your home warm and save some money on your heating bills.
Quick Tips:
- Seal Baseboards and Caulk Windows: Even the smallest of cracks and openings can allow cold air in. Do a quick check of the baseboards and windows each year before the cold weather hits.
- Insulate your Pipes: Nothing is worse than waking up to cracked or frozen water pipes. To prevent freezing, consider allowing your faucets to drip slowly. Use bowls or buckets to prevent water waste.
- Wrap Your Water Heater & Ducts: Heat can easily escape from these, so be sure that you retain as much of the heat generated as possible.
- Put Weather-Stripping on Your Doors: Doors alone do not have a tight seal, leaving room for heat to escape and cold air to enter. Weather-stripping will help to provide a tighter seal.
- Make Sure Your Windows are Closed Properly: This is especially crucial in older homes where foundations have shifted. Although the window seems closed, there still may be space left for air to enter and leave. In similar fashion to the doors in your home, consider weather-stripping.
- Cover Your Windows with Plastic: Another great alternative is to seal your windows with plastic. Hardware stores sell plastic that is specific to windows, so a tight seal can be ensured. Just make sure you won’t need to open your window for anything before spring arrives!
- Keep Doors & Heater Vents Closed to Unused Rooms: If you’re not using a room, close its heating vent. Keeping it closed will divert the heat to more used spaces in the home.
- Add Rugs or Carpets to Floors: Rugs and carpets can help to insulate your floors. You will feel warmer walking around barefoot as opposed to a cold floor.
- Insulate Your Attic & Crawl Space: In colder weather, it is ideal to have the sides of your home insulated with insulation on the walls. It makes the most sense to ensure that the top and bottom of your home is equally insulated.
Don’t worry, it won’t be long until Groundhog Day where we can start to see the Spring light at the end of the tunnel. Until then, utilize these tips to keep your home warm for the entire winter.
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