Winter DIY Project: Add Insulation

If you’re like most people, you’ve been spending a lot of time indoors lately. Unfortunately, there are several more months of winter to get through before we start seeing signs of spring.  Before you throw your hands up in despair, why not break the monotony by working on your house?  Okay, so adding insulation doesn’t exactly make your heart pound with excitement. But it will lower your utility bills, and help make your home more comfortable and eco-friendly.

 

Here are some fairly simple ways you can make your nest more cozy and warm this winter:

 

Maintain your furnace and HVAC system

Change your HVAC filters monthly, especially when the system is active during the winter. Not only will it help air quality, but you’ll also keep your system running more efficiently than it would if the filters were congested. Clear obstructions like tables and furniture away from vents too, to maximize the flow of air throughout the room.

 

Assess your heating zones

Which rooms are you spending your time in? If you have a second or third heating and cooling zone in your home, remember that they don’t all have to be set equally. Lower it in the rooms you don’t frequent, and shut doors to help keep the warmth where you need it most instead of allowing it disperse through unused space.

 

Make your home lighter and brighter

Indoor lighting plays a huge part in getting me from Fall to Spring.

 

Swap out sheer window coverings for heavier curtains

It contradicts the previous tip a little bit, but when you have very drafty windows, won’t regret sacrificing light with an investment in cellular shades to keep the heat in and cold out.

 

Seal your doorways

Put foam weatherstripping around the inside of your door to create a seal and prevent air exchange. Double Draft Stoppers are a great short-term solution for preventing a draft at the bottom of the door.

 

Reglaze, or add a layer of insulation over your windows and doors

Improve the R-value of non-insulated doors with plastic sheeting,which is installed using double-sided tape and a hair dryer. Don’t forget to re-glaze any panes that are loose and might need maintenance.

 

Change out the insert in your storm door

If you have a storm basement, change out the screen in the door to a solid glass pane (goodbye summertime cross-breeze). Very easy to forget to do this on doors that you don’t use daily!

 

Insulate your attic

This is a pricier effort, but an easy DIY.  Roll sheets of unbacked insulation between all the floor joists in your attic; if it’s already between the joists, apply a second layer with the lengths running perpendicular to the joists. Maximum protection to keep the heat in your house, and out of your attic space.  And while you’re at it, insulate the exposed pipes in your basement so that the warmth from the pipes isn’t heating the basement before it gets to your living room!

 

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Photo Credit: Bilanol / Shutterstock.com