Checklist For Insulating Your House This Winter

When those cold winter winds blow, you’ll want to stay inside as much as possible. But to do so, you’ll need to have many areas of your home properly insulated. Even if you’ve got a small hole here and there, those spots can let cold air inside your home and have you shivering in no time. Since we here at Rollac want you and your family to be as comfortable as possible inside your home, we’ve got some suggestions for insulating your house this winter.

Seal Your Doors and Windows

In any home, it is doors and windows where much of winter’s cold air finds its way inside and drops the temperature much lower than you want. When it does, the result is that you have to turn up your thermostat more and more, resulting in a higher energy bill. To prevent this and save you money, we suggest you check your doors and windows for any leaks. When you find them, use some caulking or spray foam insulation, and also consider replacing any weatherstripping that may be missing or worn out.

Install Rolling Shutters

If you want something that will virtually guarantee cold winter air will stay outside where it belongs, install Rollac rolling shutters on your home’s exterior. Once roll-down shutters are in place, you and your family will instantly begin to notice the difference in how warm your home’s interior feels. Along with looking great and easily blending in well with your home’s exterior, roller shutters are insulated and conserve much of your home’s energy, making them well worth the investment.

Vents and Ductwork

If you have vents and ductwork running through your basement and in different parts of your home, they may be gateways for cold air to easily enter your home. This is especially true in older homes, where ductwork is often not properly insulated. If you notice your home just does not feel as warm as you think it should during the winter, wrapping your ductwork in insulation may be the solution to your problem.

Holes Here and There

If you’ve lived in your home for more than a few years, chances are there are more holes around than you tend to notice. This is particularly true in areas where your dryer vent is located, where pipes from outside spigots and faucets enter your home, and where electrical wires enter and go to your home’s breaker box. By walking around the outside of your home, locating these spots where cold air is entering your home, and using some caulking or other materials, you’ll soon have these holes plugged and know cold air won’t be entering your home.

Outlets and Switches

Something that many people tend to overlook in their homes, electrical outlets and switches are spots where plenty of cold air can get into your home. Over time, outlets and switches can loosen, resulting in the gaps around them getting bigger. Naturally, this results in more cold air entering your home. By using some spray-foam insulation to seal these gaps, your home should stay a bit warmer.

Chimney Flues

When you are not using a chimney flue, leaving its opening exposed to the elements results in a downdraft that brings with it lots of cold air that gets into your home. To keep this from happening, install a cap on top of the flue to seal it up when it’s not being used.

If you’re ready to learn more about our rolling shutters and find out how they can be used to keep your home warmer this winter, talk to our pros here at Rollac.