During the harsh winter season, a home can still feel chilly even though you’ve got the heat cranked up in every room. It’s a frustrating experience as a homeowner to not feel comfortable in your own abode. Let’s take a look at causes and solutions to making your home warm and toasty during cooler months.
Get Rid of Your Attic Insulation Problems Once and For All
A lack of attic insulation is a common reason a home feels cold. If air is escaping, you’re going to feel it both in your home and your pocketbook as this isn’t an energy-efficient scenario. Adequate insulation ensures your attic will work to help keep your home warm in winter and cool during the summer. The insulation level recommended for your home is specified by the R-Value, which rates the insulation’s overall performance. Generally, the higher the R-Value, the more you’ll be protecting your home. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), homes located in northern states across America are recommended to have attics insulated with R-38 to R-49 values. To find out the recommended insulation levels for your home, check out the geographical R-value map at EnergyStar.gov.
A Fool-Proof HVAC System Formula
The job of filters in your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is to trap allergens and dust before they make their way into your home. To keep filters debris-free, the DomiDoc’s New Homeowner Guide recommends replacing your filters 4 times per year and/or as per manufacturer instructions. The EPA’s Energy Star® program advocates having a professional inspect your HVAC system twice a year in the spring and fall, using daylight savings time as a reminder. But if you don’t think you’ll remember, use the home maintenance scheduling feature of DomiDocs that comes complete with handy calendar reminders. If you own a two-story home, you may need to consider installing an additional HVAC system on a floor that always seems to be cold.
Quick Steps to Fixing Cold Air Leaks in Your Home
If things are getting drafty in your home during winter, it means cold air is leaking in through your doors and windows. Take the time to go outside and inspect your windows. Clean up and seal any cracks around the frames with a polyurethane or acrylic caulk. The same applies to your doors where you can also install weatherstripping, door sweeps, and/or draft stoppers to keep that cold air outside where it belongs. If your home has single-pane windows, consider covering them with storm windows or plastic film insulation. Air can also seep in through damaged seals and caulking around your home’s ducting, electrical wiring, and plumbing. If you’re still not sure where the frigid air is coming from, several companies make easy-to-use hand-held thermal leak detectors where you can check room by room for any unwanted airflow.
Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Cold Air Leaks in Your Home
Recessed lights with vents that open up into your attic are common routes for unwanted airflow to occur. Unless your recessed lights are sealed units, you can add inexpensive baffles to counteract any leaks. The EPA’s Department of Energy suggests inserting foam gaskets behind all of your home’s outlet and switch plates, as well as to cover your kitchen exhaust fan and close your fireplace flue, both when not in use.
DomiDocs is dedicated to making your journey as a homeowner the best it can be. Besides regularly scheduled maintenance reminders, DomiDocs can easily store your receipts, warranties, and important insurance documents on its’ comprehensive digital platform. You’ll also receive the added bonus of knowing the value of your home at any given time through the convenient DomiDocs’ TrueValueIndex® algorithm feature.
Author – Connie Motz
