5
Steps to
Winterize Your
Home for Comfort
& Energy Savings
Keeping the warmth in and the cold out is quick, easy, and requires no
construction
When the temperature drops, snow falls, and there is an icy chill in the
air, homeowners know it is time to winterize their homes for comfort
and energy savings.
If you simply cannot stand another frigid winter with cold drafts
blowing through your home, just follow five quick, easy steps to keep
your home feeling toasty without hurting the family budget.
While the first few tips may be familiar, the last one will surprise
you. It tackles perhaps the greatest heat drain on your home in an
innovative way that could leave your family feeling warm and comfy for
many winters to come.
In the battle against winter chills and rising heating bills, the key
strategy is to keep the precious heat inside and the cold drafts outside.
Here is how you do it:
1. Water heater and pipes
To keep hot water for baths, showers, and handwashing without
constantly firing up the water heater, wrap an insulated blanket around
it, which will conserve the heat. To keep any exposed household pipes
out of the cold and from potentially freezing, it is a good idea to wrap
them with insulation too.
2. Attic, walls, and basement
In order to further limit heat loss, add insulation to the attic, walls, and
basement as well, if this is insufficient. If you can see exposed ceiling
joists in the attic, you probably do not have enough. So, it is a good idea
to roll an additional blanket of insulation over the top of any already in
place.
It is particularly important to insulate the attic to prevent heat
transferring from your home’s living areas to the roof. There the heat
can melt snow and ice on the roof, which then refreezes, along with
additional snow and ice, causing ice dams on the roof. These ice dams
can block roof drainage, leading to water damage and potentially a
collapsed roof under the weight of accumulated water, snow, and ice.
3. Fireplace and Furnace
When you are not using the fireplace, close the flue to prevent heat
from going up the chimney. While you are at it, replace your furnace
filter to ensure good furnace airflow and heat distribution throughout
22 NCP Magazine • January ‘19
your home. Move any furniture that may be blocking the heating vents.
4. Doors
Any gap around doors will allow warm air to escape and cold air to
enter. Adding weather stripping around the door, including the door
sill, will help to plug these gaps. But weather stripping tends to crack
and shrink, particularly in harsh climates. So, check it annually and
replace it as necessary.
5. Windows and Patio Doors
Windows and glass patio doors are arguably the greatest culprit of
home heat loss. They transfer heat by thermal conduction through
the panes and glass surface, so additional heating is required to keep
everyone comfortable.
Air leakage through window and patio door seals that crack over
time also worsens the problem. While single pane windows transfer
the most heating (and cooling), even dual pane windows may be
insufficient to keep homes sufficiently warm and tame high utility
costs.
However, homeowners are finding relief with an innovative approach
that adds an inner insulating window to existing windows, and a
“second sliding patio door” that can be installed inside or outside
of the existing door. This can reduce heat loss by 77% or more for
single paned windows, and heating/cooling bills by up to 30%, while
stopping air infiltration for further energy savings and greater comfort.
Adding the inner window, in fact, provides an additional layer of
insulation with better insulation values than the best double pane
windows, and substantially improves insulation values for dual pane
windows as well. The second sliding patio door has even greater
insulation value due to its greater surface area.
The same practice has an added benefit. It also serves as an effective
sound barrier to dramatically reduce unwanted external street noise.
This provides homeowners with a better night’s sleep and a more
peaceful environment.
As an example, Soundproof Windows, a national manufacturer of
window energy efficiency and soundproofing products, specializes
in adding a “second insulative window” that can be installed easily
in front of the existing window. The product is designed specifically
to match and function like the original window, no matter its design
or whether it opens or closes, and can be installed in hours without