Does your home feel drafty? Do you feel a draft coming from your closed windows and doors? If so, it might be time to add or replace your weather stripping to the doors and sealing the windows. Here are some ways to help reduce your monthly utility bills.
First, walk around your house and examine your closed doors and windows for these signs:
Drafts
Gaps around window and door trim
Moisture collecting on window seals
A leaky house affects your heating and air system's consumption, leading to higher utility bills. Luckily, some things can be done to keep your utility costs low and protect your windows and doors.
Windows and Doors
One major way your home loses the most heat during the winter months is through cracks around your doors and windows. Weatherstripping is typically used to seal cracks between windows and doors. You can use foam strips on the sides and tops of doors and install a door sweep to cover the door threshold's bottom. Seal gaps larger than around windows and doors to cut your winter heating bill by up to ~15 percent.
Insulation
Insulating your attic, basement, and crawl spaces are one of the biggest things you can do to keep your energy costs down. You should do a spot check every spring and fall to ensure there aren't cracks or gaps allowing outside air in and inside air out, along with black staining on insulation, water, and moisture areas along with critter wholes. Make sure to ask a salesperson for help when choosing the right caulking material.
Fix small roof leaks using a caulking sealant. We recommend calling a professional to assess the size of the damage and perform more severe and thorough repairs for large leaks or wholes.
Check Your Outlets
In older homes and on exterior walls, light switch boxes and electrical outlets can let in outside air if they are not insulated properly. Take an incense stick, smoke pen, or use your hand in front of your outlets to see if air is coming through. If you feel a draft, it may be time to change the outlets. Having inadequate insulation around your outlets can cause lost heat and higher utility costs. Changing your outlets is an easy and inexpensive fix by installing new foam outlet gaskets. Please remember to use caution when using incense sticks and be sure to keep them away from flammable materials.
If this does not resolve the problem, you may need to call a professional to install more foam insulation or caulk into the gaps around the mounted box behind the electrical cover plate.
Paint The Exterior Of Your Home
Updating your home's exterior paint is the first layer of protection against the winter elements. In areas with increase rain and humidity, moisture can leak into paint, causing mold, mildew, and algae to form. The right type of paint can make a huge difference.
Fireplace
When your fireplace is not in use, it is letting warm air out. Remember to close the flue when the fireplace is not in use.
Contact Painting By Trees for all of your house painting needs.
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💻 www.paintingbytrees.com
📞 (770) 917-8699