Some of the best parts of winter include snuggling up under your bed covers or enjoying a cup of hot cocoa in front of a fireplace if you have one. Before you dream of your perfect winter day from inside the comfort of your home, make sure that your home is ready for winter.
Prepare your home for winter so that you can enjoy comfortable and cozy days indoors. Here’s our guide to help get your home winter-ready:
Seal doors and windows
Keeping the cold air out is a must to keep your home warm during winter. Make sure to seal your home’s doors and windows as you prepare for the cold season. Use caulk or weather stripping to plug gaps or spaces around windows or doors.
For homeowners on a tight budget, you can also use a roll of felt or foam to seal your doors and windows. Though it is an affordable option, keep in mind that it will only last for a year or two.
Invest in Insulated Curtains
Window insulation is one of the easiest ways to keep your home warm during winter. Make sure to invest in high quality, thick curtains that will prevent drafts and will keep you feeling warm and toasty.
Heavy, insulated curtains will keep the cold air outside your room and help reduce your energy bills as well. As it keeps the warm air inside, it also helps block out light, therefore improving insulation in your home.
Not only do these curtains provide extra warmth, but they also add style and make your room feel cozier. There are various kinds of insulated curtains that you can choose from. You can go with solid, neutral colors or go bold with warm colors. Whatever style you choose, insulated curtains will help keep the heat longer in your room.
Clean your gutters
Leaves, moss, and other debris can build up in your gutters and cause blockage during Autumn. If left unattended, water can’t drain effectively and can leak into the roof and walls of your home. If dampness builds up, this can cause mold to grow in the walls of your home.
As part of your winter preparation, check your home’s gutters, downpipes, and gullies. Make sure to clean out the debris and replace cracked or damaged gutters.
Set Up Maintenance for the HVAC System
An effective working central heating system is essential in keeping your home warm and cozy during winter. Schedule your HVAC system’s annual servicing a few months before winter starts so that you can resolve any issues that may come up well before the temperature begins to drop.
Early preparation will help you avoid any downtime of your HVAC system so that you don’t have any worries as you hunker down in your home during winter.
Get your chimney swept
If your home has a fireplace, make sure to have your chimney swept so that you can curl up in front of your fireplace all winter long.
Getting your chimney swept should be done annually and well before the winter starts since the harsh cold weather can seriously damage your chimney. Clean your chimney to free it from blockages, cracks, and water damage.
Once your chimney goes through its annual cleaning, you can rest assured that your fireplace is ready for the upcoming winter.
Check your oil heater
Your home’s heating system is a crucial part of your winter preparation. Oil heaters also known as oil-filled heaters or column heaters is one of the most common ways of heating a home. Oil-filled heaters are popular because of their affordability and single zone heating capabilities.
To keep your oil heater in optimal condition, make sure to conduct routine maintenance and employ professional heating tune-up services well before winter arrives. Late summer and early fall are perfect for scheduling your heating tune-ups.
“Preventive maintenance can help ensure your heater is running throughout the cold season without having to worry about heating emergencies.”, says the team from BoilerJuice US. “Preventative maintenance can help keep your heater running throughout the cold season, so your household is not faced with a heating emergency.”
Add area rugs
If you hear creaking sounds from your floorboards, there is a chance that cold air is coming through these spaces, and warm air is escaping.
To help insulate your floors, lay down thick, area rugs that will keep your feet warm and toasty. Area rugs provided added insulation and protection so that your feet do not come in direct contact with ice-cold floors.
A thicker area rug insulates a space better. Try to choose an area rug with a high pile and made from materials such as wool or faux sheepskin for extra warmth.
Reverse your ceiling fan’s direction
Ceiling fans are a perfect way to cool down during the summer, but they can also keep a room warm during the winter. If your ceiling fan has a reverse function, turn it on to recirculate rising warm air.
By switching your ceiling fan’s direction, the cooler air goes upward, which forces the warmer air to go down; therefore, making your space feel warmer. This helps you save energy since you will not have to turn up your thermostat.
Pile on layers of bedding
Before the temperature drops below freezing, prepare your beddings so that you are ready to spend a day in bed. Swap out your linen sheets for flannel sheets and a thick comforter. A good tip is to layer your bed with a combination of warm blankets, quilts, duvets, beddings and plush pillows to make it feel warm and comfy.
When it comes to your beddings, having fabrics such as wool, fleece or cotton sateen on your bed will always be a good idea for staying warm. The trick is to mix and layer different materials or fabrics that can trap body heat and provide insulation.
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