The first step is to apply weatherproofing to windows and doorframes. Check for any cracks where cold air can come in. If you can't tell where the drafts are coming from by simply feeling with your hand, try having another family member stand outside and shine a flashlight towards the door. Where you see light creep through is an area that needs to be sealed with weather-stripping. Weather-stripping kits are available at hardware stores and other all-purpose shops.
In addition to applying adhesive weather-stripping to exterior doorframes, it is also a good idea to block the airflow that escapes underneath the door. Sewing your own draft stopper is a fun, cheap, and effective way to reduce heat loss in the room. If DIY isn't your thing, you can buy colorful pre-made draft stoppers, or invest in a new door threshold or door sweep. These will seal in the warm air, and block out the cold. In summer months, they perform their function in reverse by keeping the inside of your home nice and cool.
Another affordable tool in your winter arsenal is window plastic. Window plastic looks just like the plastic wrap you use everyday in your kitchen, but is much stronger. Cut a square that is big enough to cover the entire window you're working on. Use the provided adhesive to stick it down, until all areas are sealed off. Then take a hair dryer, and blow on the plastic until all creases have been smoothed out, and the plastic has shrunk to the point that it is nearly invisible on the window.
Window plastic is inexpensive and easy to use. It also provides an excellent draft barrier. Because the plastic wrap seals off the window completely, it isn't a good idea to apply it to every room in the house. You need ventilation to not only keep your home from becoming stale, but also to prevent carbon monoxide build-up. Apply the wrap to windows in unused rooms where the windows are rarely opened, and to windows that are fixed in place.
Small details can have a big impact on your energy bills. Many home winterizing kits come with plug-in covers that reduce draft. Simply remove your regular outlet cover with a screwdriver. Apply the insulating pad, and return the outlet cover to its original place. Do this for all plugs that are located on exterior facing walls to eliminate the heat loss that can occur even in small places like electrical outlets.
When the temperatures drop, you're going to need regular access to hot water. So don't forget to prepare your pipes for the winter. Water pipes need to be insulated in order to avoid freezing over. Use newspaper or special pipe insulation as well as a hot water blanket for your hot water tank. Don't leave these tasks until after the cold spell starts. Once the pipes freeze, it will be very difficult to get the water running again. It is also a good idea to run both your hot and cold water taps frequently, to keep the water moving. If it gets really cold, you may want to leave your taps dripping slightly in order to keep up the water flow, and to prevent the pipes from freezing up.
Taking simple and affordable steps like these will go a long way in reducing your energy bills this winter.
It does not matter how cold the weather is outside, especially for those individuals that have a serious appetite for the outdoor lifestyle and cannot seem to get enough. For these individuals that are willing to brave the rigors of winter there are some great thermals available so their rewards can be phenomenal. There is some excellent fishing and hunting that occurs during the frigid winter months as well as some of the best waterfowl and deer hunting tends to coincide with absolutely bitter conditions. During the cold months of winter, the only thing you can do to compensate for the outdoor conditions is to dress appropriately for the conditions. XPS Thermals have become part of the solution to the cold-weather predicament and are available in three weight classes, which include lightweight, midweight and expedition weight. These thermals are designed to keep you comfortable, no matter what the prevailing conditions may be. Hunters and anglers alike, who want to remain active during the cold-weather months, may wear thermals as the base layer of their layering system. When it is especially cold, they may combine different thermal weights to achieve the first two layers of your overall layering system. Lightweight thermals are the perfect base layer for early spring turkey hunts and the expedition weights are great for late fall to early winter deer hunting. Whenever it is especially cold, you may want to consider wearing the expedition weights over top of the lightweight thermals, which covers my base and insulating layer. These thermals are made from extremely breathable PolarTec Power Dry fabric that helps keeps your skin dry when you sweat. There thickness is not the only distinction between the different thermal weights, because the lightweight, midweight and expedition weight thermals each have there own unique characteristics as well as in fit and design. Power Dry fabric is the key ingredient contributing to the comfort and functionality of XPS Thremals, because the fabrics feature a durable outer layer that pulls sweat through the fabric away from your skin, while the soft inner layer stays dry and comfortable. X-Static keeps your skin dry even when you sweat and has a natural antimicrobial to prevent odor due to the silver fibers that are permanently knitted into the fabric, neutralizing odor-causing bacteria. Bi-component knit construction uses different yarns on each side, one that is optimized to move moisture away from the skin, the other to dry it quickly, but the X-Static is found only on the midweight XPS Thermals. The Polartec Power Stretch is a body-hugging, four-way-stretch fabric that keeps you dry no matter how much you sweat and its provides extreme warmth without the extra weight or bulk. Patented construction features two layers that include a durable nylon outer layer that is wind and abrasion resistant and a soft inner liner that keeps you dry, but the Polartec Power Stretch is found only on the Expedition Weight XPS Thermals. These unique undergarments provide superior heat retention during long periods of cold-weather inactivity, providing extreme comfort in the deer stand, duck blind and ice-fishing shelter.
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Melanie Speed has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate, The Internet and Real Estate. Written on behalf of Melanie Speed. Melanie is one of the top agents in the area. Take a look at some of the fabulous investment opportunities availabl. Melanie Speed's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
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