PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR WINTER
Winter is coming and with it comes colder temperatures! As cold weather nears and you prepare to turn the heat on in your Maryland home, it is important to address potential heat and energy leaks. Follow these steps to prepare your home for a safe and warm winter.
Install New Windows.
Old, leaky windows can be a big problem for cold winters in Maryland. If you have an older home, you could still have single pane windows in your home. You may want to install new energy efficient double pane windows before the weather gets too cold. Benefits of double pane windows include:
- Energy savings
- Reduced impact on the environment
- Noise reduction
If you cannot afford to install new windows on your entire home, you can have one window installed at a time.
Seal your windows.
– If you are not ready to install new windows or you just want extra protection from the cold this winter, you can purchase a window insulation kit and winterize your windows that way. These kits block cold air by sealing your entire window behind a large sheet of shrink-wrap plastic. The plastic sticks to the interior casing of the window with double sided sticky tape and you use a blow dryer to shrink the plastic to fit your window. Window insulation kits are great because they keep out drafts, but if you choose to insulate your window, remember you will not be able to open your windows until spring.
Install insulated siding.
Another way you can improve energy efficiency this winter is to install insulated siding. Insulated siding not only makes your home more energy efficient, but it can also help reduce outside noise. You can also add more insulation to your attic. Heat rises and will escape through a poorly insulated attic so adding additional insulation can help keep heat inside.
Clean out your gutters.
During the fall, leaves and other debris will fall into your gutters, so make sure to clean them out before winter. If you do not clean out your gutters, the debris could clog them and cause an ice dam to form on your roof. This is dangerous and could potentially ruin your entire guttering system—causing you to replace the whole thing.
Close outside vents.
It is important to remember to close outside vents to your home as soon as it starts to get cold. Closing the vents will help to winterize your home and help cut back on heating costs.
Add weather stripping to doors.
Your door’s weather seal can rip and wear over time, leaving cold air to leak into your home. You can attach new weather seals to your entry doors to help winterize your home. If your door is insufficiently insulated, you can also install a new energy efficient door that will save you money and keep your home warmer in the winter.
Vinyl Replacement Windows, Doors, Siding, and Gutters in Maryland
If you take the proper steps now, you can keep your home warm all winter long and save a ton of money on your monthly heating bills. If you are interested in installing double pane windows or new insulated siding, contact Potomac View Energy today for a free consultation.