Preparing Your Home for Cold Winter Weather

Every year those of us who live in colder climates begin to wonder what our heating bills are going to go up to. We enjoy the months when there is no air conditioning running and we see a significant savings before the heating bills arrive. If you are looking for methods to help reduce your energy bills and keep your home warmer then you may want to learn these tips of winterizing your home. Older homes typically have more drafts and older windows without the thicker glass, but you will also find these tips will help with newer homes too.

When you are preparing your home for cold weather you should find each area in the home that has a draft or space between the door and frame. Most of the older homes have doors that tend to sag with age and the weather stripping on windows and doors begins to weaken. The first thing you will need to do is replace the weather stripping. You can hire a professional or save a little money and buy the weather stripping yourself. You will want to make sure you are placing the new weather stripping in the exact spot of the old stuff to make sure you are plugging the holes in the frame. You may also want to re-caulk around the windows to make sure you have stopped the drafts. If you are still experiencing problems with drafts when the wind blows hard or your still have cold air seeping in you can do two things.

Number one is to buy heavy curtains. The curtains will help block the drafts from seeping into the entire house. While it may not plug the draft completely it does help to keep the cooler air out and the heat in. You can also create fabric snakes. Fabric snakes are just long tubing filled with cushioning that can be place in front of windows and doors to keep the air from seeking in with the drafts. They also add a décor to the home.

If you have a larger crevice you will want to use a foam spray with straw to plug the hole. The spray will expand in the hole to keep the air from getting through. You may need to scrap around the area to make sure it is clean of debris before spraying the foam into the areas. You also want to make sure not to spray too much. Overflow will look nasty and it can be hard to cover up with paint.

Older homes usually have wood burning fireplaces. Using the fireplaces instead of the electric heat can save on your energy bill. Also keep in mind that heat rises so if you block off the upstairs rooms you are not using during the day you will keep most of the heat downstairs at a more comfortable level. Heat will still get upstairs, but you won't lose as much. Preparing your home for cold weather can include several options from window coverings, caulking, weather stripping, replacing older boards or windows, and making sure your pipes are wrapped with insulation.