When the temperature gets cold outside, you want you and your family to stay warm inside. That’s actually easier said than done, as there are a number of factors working against you. A little maintenance and preparation go a long way toward keeping the cold winds at bay. Here are four simple ideas to keep your family warm during the winter.
Add Insulation
Many people never think about how much insulation is in their homes, but if it seems like you can’t keep warm during the winter without your furnace running constantly, your insulation could be a culprit. Adding more insulation to your attic, inside exterior walls and in your basement or crawlspace can help keep you warmer in the winter — and cooler in the summer.
In addition to getting good roof insulation, blown-in insulation is the best choice, but it also is more expensive than rolled insulation.
Weatherproof Your Home
Another thing that could be fighting against your efforts to warm your home during the winter is a lack of weatherproofing. Among the ways you can weatherproof your home to ensure cold winter weather stays out and your warm air stays in are to put weather stripping around doors and windows and fill in cracks and gaps with caulk.
Perform Maintenance on Your Heater
One of the worst things you can have happen is to have your furnace not work right during the winter or break down. One of the ways you can lower the chance of that happening is to perform preventive maintenance on your heater.
Some companies, such as Hartman Heating Air and Fireplaces, know that you should change the furnace filter at least a couple of times a year and as often as every season. You also want to have an HVAC service come out once a year in the fall to perform routine maintenance on your HVAC unit and make sure there are no problems that could cause a breakdown.
Install a Smart Thermostat
You can take better control of your winter heating and also improve your energy efficiency by installing a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat allows you to set temperatures for different times of day, which can ensure your family is warm enough while not keeping it too warm when no one is home.
Taking care of your furnace while making preparations for winter can help ensure you and your family stay warm. Keep up with maintenance and do whatever you can to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Those moves will keep you and your loved ones warm and cozy when it’s cold outside.