Simple Ways to Winterize Your Home

As the sweltering summer heat starts to wind down and the cooler fall weather starts to settle in, it’s a good time to see what simple home repairs you can do before winter arrives. Doing so prevents precious heat from escaping as it gets colder and keeps your energy bill lower. Getting your home ready for winter, or winterizing your home, doesn’t have to be hard nor does it necessarily require a contractor. Here are a few simple ways you can winterize your home to make it more energy efficient this coming winter.

Check Out Your Insulation

Insulation needs to be inspected every once in a while, and fall is a great time to do so. Cellulose insulation can settle over time and can even be ruined by rodents who eat it due to cellulose being organic material. Building codes can change over time, so it’s essential to check the insulation’s current R-value. From the attics to crawl spaces, if heat can escape in gaps or thin insulation, it will. Insulation acts as a barrier, keeping warm air inside where it’s needed during the winter. The good news is you can take care of it yourself. If you discover that you need to update or replace your insulation before winter rolls in, JM has you covered with a wide range of products suited for your DIY needs as well as plenty of online resources to help you get started. 

Weatherstripping Around Doors

Another easy way to winterize your home is to examine and update your weatherstripping. Weatherstripping is the small piece of vinyl that lines the bottom of your outside facing doors. If you can see light around the edges of your doors, you need new weatherstripping because it means air/heat is escaping. The best part is that it’s easy to install, only costs a few dollars and can save you hundreds of dollars on your heating bill this winter.

Change Those Furnace Filters

While insulation and weatherstripping help to keep the heat inside, changing out your furnace filters will help your furnace to run more efficiently and less often, keeping your home warmer for longer. Changing the filters is a DIY type of job, but if you haven’t had your furnace serviced in a while, it might be a good time to have a professional inspect it to make sure there aren’t any looming issues. 

Winterizing your home doesn’t have to be hard. Taking these simple steps will make a big difference to your heating bill this winter. For more DIY tips and tricks, visit the rest of our blog and stay tuned for more to come!