With winter quickly approaching, homeowners in colder climates are putting the finishing touches on weatherproofing for the season. If you have yet to start preparing, or are wondering how to keep your house warm in winter, it’s not too late- we have provided some tips on big and small projects that will make an impact on your daily life. Whether you’re being mindful about energy efficiency or simply don’t want to deal with cold drafts blowing through your house, there are plenty of ways to keep the warm air in and the cold air out during the winter.
Major Home Makeover Options
If you’re looking to boost the overall energy efficiency of your home, major home projects may be the way to go. These upgrades can have long-lasting impacts, and are sure-fire ways to keep the heat in during the winter.
Install energy-efficient exterior doors and windows
Your front door is one of the most important aspects of your home, especially when it comes to keeping your house warm in the winter. Installing an energy-efficient front door is one of the best ways to retain heat during the winter season. While your wood or steel front door may do the trick, fiberglass is an efficient option, especially as fiberglass can have up to five times the amount of insulation value compared to wood.
The same can be said for energy-efficient windows. Low-E (low-emissivity) glass is a great choice for indoor temperature regulation, as the microscopic coating on the glass reflects the interior temperature. This will help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This protective coating doesn’t diminish the light coming in through the window and provides additional benefits such as protecting furniture or flooring from damage and fading caused by UV rays.
It should also be noted that, if replacing your windows isn’t an option, there are solutions available to help keep your windows insulated. Clear, insulative film can help keep pesky drafts out of your home in the winter and won’t compromise how much light comes in. If visibility or natural light isn’t a top priority, heavy-duty insulation is also available.
Insulate your attic
Ensuring that your home is properly insulated will go a long way in keeping your home warm in the winter, and one area to be mindful of is the attic. Without proper insulation, your attic can lead to significant temperature differences and fluctuations in your home. Ultimately, this can lead to higher heating bills in the winter. Insulating your attic can make for a more comfortable and consistent temperature in your home all winter long.
Check the seal of your doors and windows
Even if you have an energy-efficient front door, it’s not guaranteed to keep your house warm in winter if the weatherstripping is in need of replacement or there are gaps in your door. Understanding how to inspect your door’s weatherstripping is a great way to ensure your entryway is ready for the winter winds—or if it’s time for replacement. If there are visible cracks or holes around the door, filling with caulk can help prevent drafts. Additionally, a draft guard can be used for the bottom of the door.
Be sure to inspect the weatherstripping around your windows as well, and check for any visible cracks in the glass that could let the cold in. Additionally, using storm windows can provide additional protection against the wind.
Quick Home Maintenance and Tips
In addition to larger home projects, there are a variety of ways to prepare your home for the winter. Let’s take a look at a few.
Use a doormat and an entryway rug
While your front door is certainly the first line of defense against cold weather, it certainly will not help your case if you’re tracking snow and ice into your home during the winter. Putting a doormat outside to brush off snow and a rug inside to prevent cold puddles from forming will help maintain a warmer entryway during the winter.
Cover tile and hardwood flooring with rugs
Your foyer isn’t the only place where a rug can come in handy. Floors can account for up to 10% of a home’s heat loss when left bare. If your house has a lot of hardwood and tile flooring, using thick rugs will provide insulation and lessen heat loss.
Select heavyweight curtains
Alongside window insulation, heavyweight curtains are another great way to keep your house warm in the winter, as closed curtains will keep warm air from leaving the home through your windows. The thicker the curtain, the better protection it offers against heat loss.
Move your furniture
To maximize the warmth in your house, it’s recommended to rearrange your furniture if your couch is blocking your source of heat.
Close your fireplace flue
Unless you’re enjoying a fire on a cold evening, it’s important to close your fireplace flue as fireplaces and chimneys are often a cause for heat loss in homes during the winter season. To minimize cold drafts as much as possible, consider buying an inflatable chimney blocker—just make sure to take it out before using the fireplace.
How Plastpro can help
As mentioned, upgrading to an energy-efficient front door will go a long way when it comes to lowering your heat bills and keeping your house warm in winter. Plastpro’s exterior fiberglass doors are a great solution when comparing wood, fiberglass, and steel options due to the interior construction. The interior of our doors—the core—is made of a tightly packed, dense polyurethane foam. This allows our doors to be six times as insulating as a standard wood door.
High-density foam means fewer air gaps are left within the door, preventing air from passing through—holding in the interior air temperature and blocking outside temperatures from penetrating. We offer attractive, ENERGY STAR qualified doors that will help to keep the warmth in on those cold winter nights, helping you to stay comfortable while also saving on your monthly heating costs.
Pairing a Plastpro door with the other options listed above will ensure that your home stays warm this winter. To get started, find a Plastpro dealer near you to check out our selection of energy-efficient fiberglass doors.
