November 2013

With the icy, frigid months of winter quickly approaching the region of central Ohio, many homeowners find themselves in a rush to prepare their homes for several months of cold and snow. With energy costs as high as they have been, many budget-savvy home owners are taking specific steps to winterize their homes. This makes them more energy-efficient and can thus save a significant amount of money on energy costs over the span of the season.

If you are a homeowner, then winterizing your home may seem like an arduous task. Fortunately, with the right amount of guidance and professional assistance, it does not have to be. You can have your home well insulated and prepared for winter in no time by following these basic steps.

Caulk Windows, Doors, and Baseboards

Your home can lose a great amount of heat simply from bad caulking jobs alone. This is especially true of older homes with wooden baseboards. By taking the time to re-caulk around drafty areas of your home's flooring, windows, and doors, you can seal in heat and keep out the cold, thus reducing your home heating costs. Not to mention, caulking takes just a few minutes and is inexpensive to purchase, making this a great DIY project.

Apply Window Film

If installing brand new, energy-efficient windows is not an option for you this season, you can take steps to better insulate your current windows. Making sure that there are no broken seals is a wise first step to take. If you notice any condensation forming inside the window glass, that is a telltale sign of a bad seal that needs to be repaired. Furthermore, applying window film is a great way to trap heat in and keep the cold out until the warmer months of spring roll around.

Maintenance Your Heating System

Aside from making your home better insulated, it is vital that you service your home's heating system before winter hits as well. It is recommended that you hire a team of dedicated HVAC professionals to inspect your furnace and perform any necessary repairs to get it ready for winter. At Cullins One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®, we can clean your ducts, perform an affordable tune-up, and offer a variety of other services to make your home's heating system as energy-efficient as possible in preparation for winter.