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As the weather gets colder, and temperatures continue to plummet, your home becomes more vulnerable, and your bills increase. Yes, it’s that time of year again when you need to start preparing your house for winter in Michigan. Here are some things to consider to ensure that your household is winter-ready.
Maintain Your Roof
It’s no secret that Michigan winters are very harsh. Towards the end of the year, Michigan never fails to deliver an abundance of snow, ice, and heavy rain – all of which pose a threat to your home if you don’t carry out regular maintenance on your roof. Luckily, affordable companies such as Rock Solid Exteriors are here to help and can guarantee your roof will withstand the weather.
Upgrade Your Windows
The windows in your home play a vital role in keeping you warm during the winter months. Therefore, it’s wise to install double glazed windows made with thick, durable panes. Double glazing acts as a great insulator by trapping air between each layer of glass and consequently allows your home to retain as much heat as possible. Initially, double glazed windows may seem expensive, but if you choose to install them, you will minimize your heating bill and even increase the value of your property exponentially.
Purchase Energy-Efficient Curtains
Few homeowners are aware that energy-efficient curtains are available on the market. These heat-retaining curtains are made with thick material, extra lining, and will help you maintain a cozy house for yourself and your family. It’s also important to keep them closed after sundown to maximize their effect. You can find more guidance on thermal curtains online.
Minimize Energy Waste
The waste of energy is a big problem across many households. When you heat every room in the house but don’t use them, you face unnecessary extra costs when it comes to heating bills. Therefore, it’s advisable to only heat the rooms you are going to be in. So, turn off the radiators in vacant areas of your house and ensure all doors are closed.
Prevent Potential Draughts
It’s true that doors are something to be mindful of during winter, especially when it comes to gaps underneath them. This is because they allow cold drafts to flow through your home. Luckily, you can purchase draft excluders. These handy devices fit underneath your doors and will tackle the cold, helping to minimize costs. There are other different ways to prevent draughts, some of which include using sealant strips, weather stripping tape, and keyhole covers. By removing the risk of draughts in your home, not only will you keep your family warmer, but you will also minimize any condensation and mold from invading.
Use a Strong Sealant
In addition to gaps underneath your doors, heat can be unnecessarily lost through any cracks that are in your doors or around your windows. To minimize heat loss, you can use a strong sealant. Sealants are readily available and are inexpensive. When you are looking for the correct areas to seal, you should also check any letterboxes, ducts, and fireplaces as these are sometimes overlooked.
Remember to Reflect Radiator Heat
To maximize heat, you can cover your external radiators with aluminum to prevent warmth from escaping outside. Kitchen foil does work but isn’t as effective as reflective aluminum sheets. They are very affordable and can be bought from a range of different retailers. Moreover, you can also bleed your radiators often if you want to make them more efficient, and be wary of covering them with furniture which will absorb the heat.
Upgrade Your Insulation
It’s vital to review the insulation in your home. It’s thought that at least half of a home’s heat is lost out of the walls if it lacks proper loft and wall cavity insulation. Furthermore, it’s believed that 10% of heat loss stems from a lack of insulation on floors. Floors without carpets lose heat so you should try to cover them up with rugs or install floorboard insulators.
Look at the Water Pipes and Tanks
Along with insulating your walls loft and floors, you should also think about insulating water tanks and pipes that are in your Michigan home. Primary pipe insulation involves surrounding the pipes with thick foam and will only cost you around $25-50. It is effective and can save you even more money by keeping your water hot for longer. If you are interested in insulating your home, it may be worth investigating the grants available in your area. This is because some funding is provided through government schemes, depending on your household situation.
Update Your Boiler
Boilers heavily impact the price of your heating each month. If you make sure that you have an efficient boiler, you will guarantee financial savings in the long run despite the initial cost of an upgrade. It’s recommended that boilers are less than 6-10 years old and are regularly maintained by a professional. When looking to buy a new boiler, there are different kinds such as combi boilers, heat only, or system boilers. However, the most effective are condensing boilers which heat the water using an integral heat exchanger and give you instant hot water. It’s worth noting that having a modern boiler is also another great way to increase the value of your home, should you ever wish to rent or sell it.
Install a Reliable Thermostat
Finally, installing a reliable thermostat will enable you to change and control the temperature of your house. Usually, homeowners find the most comfortable temperature to set is around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is also considered to be environmentally friendly while keeping your house warm enough during the winter. Many different types of thermostats are worth considering. You can even purchase thermostats for each of the radiators in your house which are very convenient to use.
With the guidance listed above, you will certainly be able to keep your home comfortable throughout the harsh Michigan winter at an affordable cost. These smart investments will ultimately reduce your household heating bills and be environmentally friendly.
