How to Keep Your Home Properly Insulated
Keep Heating Costs Down by Properly Insulating Your Home
The U.S Department of Energy states that the average U.S family spends at least $2,200 a year on energy bills, nearly half of that goes toward heating and cooling. You may be wondering, why does that number sound so high? Well, most of the time households are not properly insulated, causing your homes AC and heat to run harder and longer than it needs to. Before the winter truly starts, you may want to check to make sure your home is well-insulated. Remember, a properly insulated home will keep the warmth inside, reducing your heating costs and improving comfort!
Check out these the five tips for insulating your home below to save on energy bills and keep you and your family nice and cozy this winter.
1. Seal Gaps Around Doors
Your doors may be leaking air, doors that aren’t correctly fitted to the frame can form gaps. One of the easiest ways to keep your home insulated is to seal these gaps, which are typically found at the bottom of the door. You can easily fix this issue by:
- Using weather strips: Weather strips are an easy, inexpensive way to stop air leaks.
- Installing draft stoppers: Also known as a door snake or door pillow, draft stoppers sit beneath the bottom of your door and can be purchased at your neighborhood Lowes or Home Depot.
2. Cover or Repair Windows
Check the windows of your home for any leaks. If you feel cold air leaking in then it’s time to cover or repair. For a quick fix, tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames and seal tightly. If you need a more long-term solution, replace your old windows all together. Older homes that have single-pane windows lack proper insulation, causing your energy bills to skyrocket. To save money and keep those drafts from coming in, consider replacing with double or triple-pane windows.
3. Use Your Curtains
Curtains not only provide us with a sense of privacy, they’re also good for insulating homes, especially if you have drafty windows. When the sun is out, remember to open your curtains to let light and heat in, when it’s dark, close them for an extra layer of insulation.
4. Insulate Your Attic
Proper insulation is not only necessary when finishing your attic, but will also increase your energy savings as well. Keep in mind, about 25 percent of heat is lost through the roof of your home. You can reduce this by insulating the ceiling and walls. Loose-fill or batt insulation is typically installed in attics, because it provides better coverage when installed properly.
5. Close Your Fireplace Damper
Fireplaces are a great source of heat, unless of course you forget to close your fire damper. Unless a fire is burning your fire damper should remain shut. An open damper is like leaving a window open, which of course would let heat escape. If you have gas logs in your fireplace, than leave the damper open as gas fireplaces release large amounts of carbon monoxide, and therefore must always have an open damper. If your pilot light is not lit, close the damper to ensure you’re not losing any heat, just make sure to open it back up when your gas fire place is in use.
We hope you found these tips helpful when making sure your home is properly insulated. For information on one of our roll off dumpster rentals, call us at Waste Solutions 123.