Improve the Insulation in Your Home
Winter can wreak havoc on your home and cause a sudden increase in your heating bills. The biggest reason why your home feels colder than it should be is that you lack proper insulation. Not having enough insulation can also let the cold air out in the warmer months. Find out some of the easiest ways you can improve insulation in your home to save on your heating and cooling costs.
1. Fix drafts and leaks
Any drafts or leaks around your home allow the air you want to keep outside to come inside. They also let any air inside your home get outside. Window insulation kits are easy to use and give you a quick way to cope with drafts and leaks. You need a heat gun or a hair dryer to install the kits. If you aren't sure how to find those leaks or don't have time to use an insulation kit, call a local home improvement expert like Mr. Handyman for help.
2. Insulate your attic
If you have a home with an attic, the odds are good that it either doesn't have any insulation or that it lacks enough insulation. The warm air that rises on cold days will escape right through the attic. Even if you don't have a full attic, you might have a partial attic or some unused space that allows air to escape. Adding insulation to the area below your roof can lock in the air you want and need.
3. Consider blow-in insulation
Many locals worry about adding more insulation because they assume contractors need to open their walls and lay place rolled insulation inside. An alternative is blow-in or blown insulation. Instead of taking out a large section of your wall, the contractor makes a small hole and inserts a tube. They use that tube to blow the insulation inside of the walls. Some of the benefits of investing in blown insulation include:
It often costs less than rolled insulation.
The contractor can finish the job faster.
Blow-in insulation lasts for years.
4. Protect your pipes
As soon as the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, any unprotected pipes can freeze. Save yourself the cost and hassle of frozen and burst pipes with pipe insulation. A local company like Hogg Heating & Cooling can install pipe insulation, which looks like large foam noodles that wrap around each one. You can also seal any openings around the pipes and use a heater on cold days.
5. Use curtains
Using curtains is one of the easy ways to save money in winter that also act as extra insulation. Look for thick curtains or blackout drapes. These window coverings block out the cold air to keep your home warmer. They can also block out some of the sounds you normally hear.
Put any of these tips into action to insulate your home easily this winter. Turn to TheHomeMag to find even more home improvement tips. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook today!
