Staying warm throughout the coldest months of the year can be challenging and expensive. In some homes, it may seem as though the furnace is running constantly yet you still feel chilly.
Because of this, people may limit their use of the furnace because they cannot afford to run it as much as they would like. Here are some steps to heat your home efficiently so that you can stay warm without emptying your bank account.
Understanding How to Heat Your Home Efficiently
In order to understand how to heat your home efficiently, you need to know what is affecting your heating efforts. For example, there may be many trouble spots in your home that allow warm air to escape or cool air to enter. This directly impacts the temperature in your home and your overall comfort. By proactively making some adjustments, it becomes easier to heat your home efficiently.
1. Upgrade Insulation
Without adequate insulation, indoor and outdoor air may transfer easily. Insulation is designed to keep heat indoors where you need it.
Schedule an inspection today to learn about the condition and placement of your home’s insulation. Adding more insulation to areas of concern or replacing insulation throughout the home are effective ways to help heat your home efficiently.
2. Seal Your Home
Your exterior walls are not solid structures. There may be cutaways for pipes, vents, windows, and doors. You may assume that these areas are sealed, but this is often not the case.
Some homes are built poorly with leaks in these areas from the start. In other homes, the seals have deteriorated. If you want to heat your home efficiently, you need to identify any vulnerable areas and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.
3. Add Insulative Window Film
Windows block airflow when they are in good condition, but consider that some older windows have a single pane. Other homes have a double-pane design, but the pressure seal between the windows may be damaged.
Assess the condition of your windows. Replacing windows may be the best option in some cases, or you can install an insulating film over the windows for great results.
4. Upgrade Your Furnace
By taking these steps, you’ll maintain a comfortable temperature indoors more easily, but you will still need to run your furnace. If your furnace is older, you may spend a fortune heating your home because it’s less energy efficient than a newer model. To determine if you could save money by upgrading your furnace to heat your home, consult with a home inspector.
If you spend more money than you’d like or if you struggle to stay warm in the winter despite using a furnace, consider making these changes. In addition to taking these steps, you can also light a fire in the fireplace, wear warm clothing, and cozy up with a blanket and warm beverage. These efforts will help you stay warm throughout the winter without spending so much money.
American Home Inspections Tennessee offers home inspection services, including thermal imaging inspections, which help identify areas that are missing insulation or need to be sealed. Contact us today for an inspection!