With the polar vortex sweeping down across much of the U.S. this winter, you may notice more of a chill in your home. Fortunately there’s plenty you can do. Now that you know the house should be warmer, here are some things you can do to get ready for next year’s wintry blasts.
HVAC Inspection
Schedule a home heating system inspection by licensed professionals. The technician can make sure your furnace is working efficiently without undetected problems. If an issue is found, it can be promptly addressed to keep warm air coursing through your home consistently when needed. Aging parts can be replaced to avoid future problems, so that next winter your system will continue to be a reliable heating source. It’s also important to keep their number on hand so that you can call them in case of a heating emergency.
Update Your Home’s Insulation
Older homes sometimes lack adequate insulation, which makes your house feel colder during the winter. This may be due to deteriorating insulation material or worn structural elements. Contact a residential insulation expert to check your home’s insulation to see if it is sufficient for your family’s current needs. If not, you can likely have more insulation installed to keep your house warm in freezing weather. You may also want to check your windows. Cold air can leak through old glass or through the sides of the window. New insulation or window replacements can make a big difference there too. The work won’t take long, and the results will be worthwhile, helping you to save money on your heating bill for years to come.
Add Weather Strips
The weather stripping around your doors and windows can break down over time. Insects trying to invade your home may be able to chew through it in spots, letting in cold air and causing further decay to the linings. Update your weather strips if they show signs of wear, breakage, or loosening. Keeping doors and windows secured in this way can reduce the amount of air that can enter your home through these frameworks. You should continue to check in on them and see if they need to be replaced.
Install an Electric Fireplace
If you have a working fireplace, it can be used to help heat that part of your home where it is located. But maintaining and monitoring a wood fire can be time consuming. Cleanup is often a hassle. Consider installing an electric fireplace that looks like the real thing. You can adjust the size of the blaze as well as the temperature, which can comfortably heat a large area. The best part is that you won’t have any stocking of wood or cleanup to worry about.
Check your home for areas like these where you can add upgrades or new installations for greater warmth and air comfort. The above suggestions can help you figure out what you want to do. Getting them done ahead of time will save you labor in the long run. With minimal effort now, you can keep your house toasty and safe for the family throughout the winter.
