It’s COLD. Seriously, it is one of the coldest winters I can remember here in Pennsylvania. As I’m writing we’re planning for yet another snow day with a high of 9 degrees tomorrow. I can hardly wait! (You can feel my sarcasm dripping through the screen, can’t you?) Despite the deep freeze outside we’re trying not to touch that thermostat and jack up our energy bills. Instead, we’ve made use of these tips to winterize our home. Check them out and you can use them to save on your energy costs, too. And you can stay warmer, because clearly that’s needed with sub-zero windchills!
I have 5 easy tips for you to winterize your home. This stuff is easy, inexpensive, and quick to implement. It keeps you warmer and saves money. We call that a #winterwin. 😉
1. Weather stripping Apply weather stripping to your door frames and the bottoms of windows to prevent air from leaking in. I don’t know what it is about my daughter’s room but it’s chilly in there. So we went to work in there first to warm things up. This stuff is so inexpensive, less than $5 a roll. And it’s really easy to apply.
2. Outlet Plate Insulation This is one I never would have thought of, but your outlets can actually leak heat from your home. These are also SO inexpensive and really easy to install. Just unscrew the plate, put the piece of insulation over the outlets, and then screw the plate back on. It’s going to make the biggest difference on the outlets that are on your exterior walls, but we put them everywhere. Don’t forget if you have little ones to use plug protectors!
3. Caulking So easy to use, this can quickly seal up any cracks you have in your window or door moldings. We actually had a fair amount of cracks around our windows and this seals them right up. Read the directions because you don’t want to apply it when it’s frigid outside. Wait for at least little bit of a thaw!
4. Smart Strips I had no idea these things existed! This is so smart. Did you know that about 75% of the power used by electronics is wasted energy called ‘phantom power’? Wow! The way this Smart Strip works is that you plug one item into the control port, and when you turn that device on or off all electronics plugged into the switched ports also turn on or off. So you might plug your computer into the control port, and then have your monitor, speakers, and desk lamp plugged into the control switches. When you turn off the computer, those peripherals also turn off. Great idea, right?
5. DIY Draft Dodger If you’re crafty here’s a fun one to keep the drafts out. Actually it looks pretty simple. I’m not much of a sewer but I think even I could manage this project.
And now that the house is warm, how about something to keep you warm? That just might put a dent in those energy bills, too. Plus it’s cute, and perfect for a Valentine! Get the directions to make this Homemade Handwarmer and have fun with it!
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I’d love to hear your tips, too!
What do you do to defend your home from the cold?
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Natalie says
Ahhh, I should so use the weather stripping on my windows! Seriously, this winter can just quit now!
Wendy says
If there’s one good thing that will come from this horrid cold weather, it’s my new willingness to winterize! I just can’t put it off anymore. Weatherstripping was the first thing we did this year!
Heather Barker says
I use bubble wrap on my windows in the winter to keep out the cold winds. Buy a roll of bubble wrap at Walmart or a shipping store, using a spray bottle of plain water get your windows damp, apply the bubble wrap puffy side to the window and cut to fit. On my living room windows my mom and I usually do a double layer and tape the second layer over the first so that no cold air comes in. This works way better than the plastic window insulation kits that you can buy at most stores and lasts all season too.
Lindsay Frank says
Great tip! Thank you for sharing!