Winterizing Your Home

Winterizing Your Home


Old man winter is right around the corner. The big heating bills will only get bigger. Here are a couple of things you can do to keep them down.
1. If your door is really drafty, check the alignment (see if the door is straight when closed) and look at the bottom to see if there is a gap. Then look at all of the edges and see if they are tight. If you close a door and can see light anywhere top, bottom, sides, then they need weather strip and a door sweep at the bottom. That will ensure that there is a tight seal when closed. You would be shocked at how much money goes out the doors and windows.
2. Windows: First check to see if your windows are wood or alumimum or PVC. If you can feel a draft or if you see your shades move when the wind is blowing you have a problem. I know this isn't the time anyone wants to put in new windows, a 1/4 weather strip can be the answer where the window meets the bottom of the window. If this isn't possible, then there are clear plastis kits that you can put over the whole the window, you take a hair blow dryer and blow it at the plastic, moving it over the entire and keeping it about 10 inchs away from the plastic (as not to melt it). You will see all of the wrinkles and bumps pull tight right before your eyes. Bingo all the drafts are gone!
3. Wall plates if you have ever put you hand near a wall switch or a receptical plate on a cold day, you might feel a heavy draft. They make little fiberglass or foam insulaters. Unscrew the plate and put them right under the plate, screw plate back on. These can be found at your local hardware store.
4. If you have storm windows make sure they are closed tight, make sure the seals are good, and there are no cracks or breaks. This helps a great deal, as do storm doors. If you have them, check them for a fit tight also. Storm door create an area between the outer door and the inner door that keeps the heat loss to a minimum. You have to make sure the chaulking around the windows and doors are intacked
Good luck and hope this helps!