In a previous blog I provided some tips on how to ensure your home is ready for Old Man Winter. In our home we are prepping for an Artic blast, which is currently making its way down from Canada. I am never ready for bone chilling temperatures, but that doesn’t mean my house isn’t. Believe me, if you’ve got air leaks around your windows, the first cold day of winter will reveal them to you. Did you know one of the oldest methods for detecting an air leak is to use a lit candle? Simply move it around the window’s border to see if it flickers. If the leak is anything above a pinhole, you should be able to feel the cold air coming in.
So what can you do to keep the cold air out and the warm air in? When dealing with drafty windows it’s all about caulk and plastic sheeting. These are by far the easiest and most efficient ways to seal your windows. The sheeting, which usually secures to the window frame with an adhesive strip, is the most effective method if you are looking to insulate since it creates an “air cushion” between the window and the room. However, if you’ve got modern double-paned windows, you already have an insulating air space and applying the plastic sheeting is really not necessary.
Once you are done with the windows it’s time to check your doors. Check the exterior doors first. Inspect the weather stripping around the door’s frame. With older doors this is very important since most doors shrink with age and can leave airspace at the bottom. To plug the airspace consider using a “draft dodger,” a cloth or canvas strip filled with beanbag material that sits up against the base of the door and blocks cold drafts. They come in a variety of designs and are readily available at many discount stores. In fact, my neighbor has one in the shape of a cat—-its tail is what acts as the “draft dodger.” I have also seen “draft dodgers” in the shape of sprawled out dogs and some in the shape of snakes.
Do you have a “draft dodger?”
In the next “Tips For Winterizing Your Home” blog I provide you with ways you can prepare your pipes and gutters for the brutally cold months ahead.
Related Articles:
Winterizing Your Home: 10 Ways To Lower Your Gas Bill
Getting Your Home Ready For Winter-Part 1: The Furnace
Tips For Winterizing Your Backyard