A Handy Guide To Weatherproofing Your Home

For many people, buying a house is a huge accomplishment. But it’s only the beginning. If you want to keep your home in good condition for years to come, Limehouse Management Company advises, you’ll have to deal with the varying weather conditions in your region. While you can’t control the weather, there are ways you can minimize its effects and prevent possible damage to your house once it occurs. It’s where weatherproofing comes in.

Weatherproofing helps keep your home structure safe and your utility costs low. Most weatherproofing strategies don’t require professional skills and can be done through a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach. However, it’s always wise to hire professionals or seek help from service providers similar to https://raycore.com, especially for insulation needs, to ensure it’s done well. If you don’t know where to start, read the guide below to weatherproof your home effectively.

1. Invest In Home Insulation

Whether you’re living in a cold or hot region, investing in home insulation isn’t only an energy-efficient addition. But it may also help weatherproof your property. Good insulation serves as a barrier to heat flowing out and into your house, and it’s crucial to keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Insulation is typically measured based on its R-value. A high R-value indicates that the insulation is more resistant to heat flowing out and into the property, allowing you to enjoy better energy savings. It isn’t about the insulation product’s thickness that matters. The R-value is more essential because it indicates the product’s thermal performance.

Choosing the appropriate type and level of insulation for your home will vary depending on the climatic conditions and should account for daily and seasonal temperature variations. Before you shop around for your insulation needs, determine whether the insulation will be needed to keep the heat in or out or both. This way, you’ll be able to choose the right insulation product. When selecting insulation products, comparing their environmental benefits is essential. These days, other brands of polyester insulation contain recycled materials like drinking bottles and paper. Once done with your comparison, seek advice from the most reliable insulation retailer in your area to help you pick the right insulation product for your needs.

2. Seal Your Exterior Walls

When it comes to weatherproofing your home, you must take care of your outdoor area. Outdoor brick, stone, or exterior concrete are vulnerable to damage from weather elements because they’re porous materials. Pay attention to moisture, which may indicate a more significant issue. Take note that it can threaten your entire house. To prevent this, seal the porous surfaces and check for some cracks in concrete and mortar. Sealing your exterior walls can be a DIY job. However, if you don’t know how to do it properly, it’s best to leave it to the experts. Professionals know how to seal your exterior walls, keeping them moisture-free or leak-free.

3. Get A Programmable Thermostat

During the winter, heating your house may result in high utility bills. So, it’s crucial to look for ways to keep your temperature control system working efficiently and reduce utility costs. An excellent solution is to replace your outdated thermostat with a more advanced, programmable thermostat. It allows you to automate temperature settings remotely without needing someone to set it up beforehand. With the remote features provided by programmable thermostats, managing temperatures is now easier. You’ll also enjoy savings on your energy costs.

If you’re having second thoughts about getting a programmable thermostat, here are the other benefits you can experience:

• Help Keep A Consistent Temperature

A programmable thermostat may also run constantly, keeping the perfect temperature throughout your house regardless of your schedule.

• Provide Reliable Precision

A programmable thermostat is precise, allowing you to pinpoint or adjust the ideal temperature. It’s essential since each degree may result in savings.

• Cut Costs With Zoning

A zoning system divides your house into several areas with the same conditioning requirements, allowing you to manage the temperatures throughout your house. If you pair it with a good programmable thermostat, you can automate every zone’s thermostat and significantly reduce your bills.

• Optimize Your Heating And Air Conditioning System

If your heating and air conditioning system is old and may stop working at any time, yet you’re not ready to upgrade it, consider getting a programmable thermostat. In the meantime, it helps your heating and cooling units operate efficiently.

• Increase Efficiency

With programmable thermostats, your house becomes more energy efficient throughout the season. A more efficient house means you’re using your resources effectively, preserving your appliances and systems as time passes.

4. Clean Your Gutters

Weatherproofing isn’t only limited to the inside of your house. You also have to take care of your exterior, and that includes cleaning your gutters. Doing so can protect your attic insulation and prevent water damage to your attic. When left untreated, stuck water may cause structural damage and lead to mildew and mold growth, threatening your family’s health.

So, you must clean your gutters at least once a year. However, if trees are around your property, you must do it often, especially after a storm. Below are some of the ways to clean your gutters:

• Ensure you have an extendable, sturdy ladder. Place it on a sturdy surface and use ladder stabilizers for safety and to prevent damage to your gutters. Having a helper in case you need a hand or drop something off may also be handy.
• Wear proper attire and use safety gear. Remember, cleaning gutters can be a dirty job. Wear rubber gloves, work pants, and a long-sleeved shirt if possible.
• Use a small scoop to get rid of the gunk from your gutters. You can purchase gutter scoops at local stores.
• When done removing the gutter gunk, use a hose to flush your downspouts and gutters to clear out remaining dirt particles. Doing this may also help you check whether or not your gutters are leak-free.
• If there are leaks, fix them immediately. Depending on your preferences, you can consider it your DIY activity or hire professionals.

Ideally, you should clean your gutters during the summer. This way, you’ll have all the time to do this task because the weather is on your side. So, when the rainy seasons come, you can rest easy knowing that your gutters are well-maintained and will keep you away from sudden emergencies.

5. Use A Water Heater Insulation Blanket

Insulating a water heater can help reduce heat loss, which can help you cut energy costs over time. So, get a water heater insulation blanket to keep your unit cozy during the colder months. It’s essential to note that not all blankets can be insulated for water heaters. Using a traditional blanket can be a fire hazard. Therefore, if you’re doing this as a DIY project, invest in the right insulating blanket. The best water heater insulation blanket should fit your tank size. Typically, an insulating blanket with a high R-value is ideal. The good thing about it is that it’s relatively inexpensive and pays off after a few months. You can purchase insulating blankets online and at local hardware stores. Before you choose one, check your water heater’s capacity or tank size.

6. Check And Replace Your Filters

Clogged filters can cause your heating and cooling systems to work extra hard to cool and heat your house. It may result in higher power bills in the winter and summer, uncomfortable humidity levels, and damage to your cooling or heating system. Unregulated indoor air humidity isn’t good during the winter because it may cause freezing on the insides of windows and doors. If you have some pets in your house, kids with allergies or asthma, or use your cooling or heating system often, you may need to replace your filters more frequently. Check your filters periodically and change them whenever necessary.

Ideally, it’s best to replace your filters every two months, mainly if you live in a high-pollen area. If you worry about the cost, filters are generally affordable, and changing them is easy and doesn’t require professional expertise. In many cases, you can change your filters by sliding out the old one and sliding in the new one. To determine the right filters for your units, check the user manual, and don’t forget about the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) range your unit falls into. High MERV filters with a tight mesh can be too much for various units, resulting in situations like clogged filters. If you’re confused with the options available on the market, ask for help from experienced dealers or professionals.

7. Use Draft Door Stoppers

Even if you can’t seal every crack or leak in your house, it’s possible to prevent air from exiting and entering your property using draft door stoppers. These eliminate the drafts that may seep through your doors’ bottom. The good news is that they are affordable, and you can make some yourself.

If you don’t have time to make your door draft stoppers, you can find plenty of options online. When shopping around, keep the following tips in mind:

• Know Your Needs

When buying a door draft stopper, you should know your needs first. Think of the size that works best for your needs before you finalize your decision.

• Think Of Your Budget

While door draft stoppers are generally inexpensive, determining your budget is still essential. This way, it’ll be much easier for you to narrow down your options and guide your search. You’ll also know how much you’re willing to spend or what you can afford when looking for door draft stoppers.

• Check The Warranties And Return Policies

You should check the warranties or return policies if you’re buying online. It is helpful when you receive a product that doesn’t work on your doors or your items arrive with damages.

8. Use Thermal Or Blackout Curtains

Blackout curtains aren’t only effective for promoting sleep and may also help you weatherproof your home. It can be an affordable way to add a small amount of insulation to your house. For example, during a heat wave, these curtains can provide extra layers of insulation from the hot outdoor air. During the winter, thermal or blackout curtains can also keep the cold air out, keeping you and your family comfortable and cozy.

There are other benefits of using blackout curtains, and these are:

• Filter Out Noise

Blackout curtains may also help reduce the outside noise from entering your room. It’s because they’re made from heavier, thicker fabrics. They can also be helpful when you’re working and don’t want to hear outside disturbances.

• Save Energy

Although blackout curtains tend to be expensive, you can enjoy savings on your cooling or heating bills once you use these curtains. Since they can do an excellent job of reducing thermal loss, you can guarantee that your heating or cooling system won’t work extra hard to keep the temperature comfortable inside your house.

9. Add Weatherstripping To Your Windows And Doors

If you go inside your room and it feels hot during the summer or drafty in the winter, the main culprits are your windows and doors. During the winter, you can check for it by holding a candle and checking if it flickers even when your doors or windows are entirely shut. Weatherstripping blocks energy loss and reduces drafts through your doors and windows. When installed properly, it can help regulate your home’s temperature, keep out excess dirt and moisture, and keep energy bills low.

Weatherstripping is manufactured from various kinds of pliable materials. The right one may depend on your windows, doors, and current needs. Below are the two primary forms of weather stripping you can consider:

• Self-Stick Weather Stripping

It’s an excellent option when nailing isn’t possible, especially if you have metal or vinyl windows. It does a great job of sealing too many warped or irregular windows for rigid weather stripping. It’s preferred for parts of windows or doors that press together instead of sliding against each other. It also works well on hinged windows and doors.

• Nail-On Weather Stripping

It’s available as metal V-shaped spring strips or tubular seals, often sold in coils. Since they’re nailed in place, they’re much more secure than self-stick weather stripping. The only downside of nail-on weather stripping is that it requires more labor for installation. The right type and size of nail-on strips to choose from, depending on your needs.

Conclusion

Weatherproofing your home has countless benefits. When done right, it can safeguard your house from different weather conditions for years to come. So, use the guide above to keep your property comfortable, whatever the seasons bring.