As the chilly winds blow across Chicagoland, our real estate agents can see the writing on the wall: winter is coming. As much as we enjoy frosty mornings and the promise of snowy days ahead, we also want to ensure you stay cozy and warm in your Chicago home this season.
It starts with making sure you're well-insulated. These simple DIY insulation tips are easy, fast and affordable. Best of all, they'll keep you warm this winter and help shave a few dollars off your utility bills.
1. Put Weather Stripping Around Doors and Windows
Drafty windows and doors are among the leading sources of heat loss in an average home. Luckily, gaps and cracks are easy to find around window and door frames and just as easy to fix. Finding them is often as simple as using your bare hands to detect incoming drafts (for best results, do it on a chilly day and get your house good and warm). Then, use vinyl, rubber or foam weather stripping around the margins to seal the gaps.
2. Hang Thick Curtains
Even well-sealed windows can lose a lot of heat, especially if you live in an older home with aging single-pane windows. Replacing all those windows with newer models would be effective but costly. An easier and cheaper option is to replace your breezy summer curtains with thicker, heavier drapes that will help seal in the heat. Just remember to open them up on sunny days to take advantage of the sun's warming rays!
3. Get a Fireplace Plug
A fireplace is a great feature but isn't necessarily an energy-efficient one. Unless you use your fireplace as your primary source of heat, it's likely that a good amount of the warm air your furnace is pumping out is going right up the chimney. The solution is a simple one: invest in an insulating chimney plug to seal up your unused fireplace chimney.
4. Wrap Your Pipes
You've probably heard plenty of horror stories about what can happen when un-insulated pipes freeze and burst during a severe cold snap. Get out in front of this potential disaster by insulating your pipes. Foam pipe insulation is effective, affordable and easy to install.
5. Caulk Around Vents and Pipes
Any object that passes through an exterior wall, such as a vent or pipe, creates a potential pathway for cold air to enter your home and heated air to escape. Go around your house and look for any spots where this could occur, such as the vents from your washer and dryer, and then use a tube of insulating silicone caulk to seal up around the vents.
6. Add Attic Insulation
Adding insulation to your attic could be a DIY project, or it might be something you want to call a professional for. It depends on your skill, comfort level and how much insulating TLC your attic needs. Installing rolls of mineral wool or fiberglass insulation between the joists of an unfinished attic is fairly straightforward, and it could help you combat as much as 25% of your home's energy loss.
7. Insulate Your Water Heater
An insulating jacket for your water heater can significantly reduce heat loss, especially if your water heater is in an unheated part of your house. Foam jackets are easy to install, but read the instructions carefully — installation is different for gas and electric models.
Contact us today to learn more about enjoying winter in Chicagoland! From DIY tips to exploring Chicago's neighborhoods, our real estate agents are always happy to help.
