Things You Can Do to Make Your Home More Efficient & Ready for Winter

It might sound too good to be true that you can save 10 percent on your utility bills in Denver this winter with a couple of home upgrades, but it isn’t. By sealing home air leaks and adding insulation, you will see a direct impact on your energy consumption and utility bills. Learn how to get started sealing and insulating your home and how doing so will help you stay comfortable this winter.

Common problem areas 

Many homes across the U.S. do not have adequate insulation and can benefit from having insulation put in or from home sealing of air leaks.  The following areas often have problems, and are the first places to check:

• Attics – Attics with poor (or poorly installed) insulation cause ice damming on the roof, dust in the home, and drafts.
• Basements – Basement air leaks can also allow pests into the home.
• Doors and Windows – Leaky doors and windows cause the house to feel cold and drafty.  If you do not have the time to do this yourself, consider having a free home energy assessment done. Professionals will inspect the interior and exterior of your home, notice places where you have air leaks, where you need home sealing, and where you can improve energy efficiency. You then have an action list of home improvements to make, and product or service recommendations that you can trust.

Benefits of sealing air leaks

Sealing air leaks around your home and adding insulation will save you money. Yet it will also help you to be more comfortable during the winter without having to turn up the thermostat. Adding insulation can also reduce the level of ambient noise you hear in the home, and will improve humidity control and indoor air quality.

It’s fairly easy to weatherstrip and caulk doors and windows yourself using a tube of caulk and foam weatherstripping tape or plastic weatherstripping film. While you can fix insulation yourself, it takes greater physical labor and more time. Learn more about how you can complete both of these projects at Energy Star’s Do It Yourself webpage.

At Indoor Air Quality, we are your partners in energy efficiency and home air quality. Contact Indoor Air Quality to learn more about how we can help make your Denver home more comfortable and efficient this winter.