Essential Renovations to Keep Your Home Cozy This Winter
For many homeowners, the first snowfall of the season is an exciting time. It offers the opportunity to break out their favorite sweater, enjoy a warm mug of coffee, and get into the holiday spirit. Unfortunately, if your home is not well-prepared to handle the cold, even a hot cup of Joe will not be enough to get you into a festive mood. With this in mind, stay one step ahead of the cold weather and consider the following renovations to keep your home cozy this winter!
Service the HVAC System
Keeping the furnace and HVAC ducts in top condition ahead of winter is one of the best ways to ensure a cozy home. Clogged and inefficient HVAC systems will not only limit the amount of heat entering your house, but they will cause your utility bills to skyrocket. Have the furnace inspected and the HVAC ducts cleaned by a licensed professional. Be sure to replace your furnace filters every 1-3 months, depending on the recommendation for the product type.
Comprehensive Insulation
Much like going outside without a jacket, without the proper insulation, the cold winter winds will chill you to the bone. It is an absolutely critical component of having a cozy house in cold conditions. The higher R-value will limit unwanted air transfer between the cold exterior and heated interior, leading to a more comfortable environment with less energy consumed in the process.
The key to a well-insulated house is having a comprehensive infrastructure. In addition to the best insulation for exterior walls, be sure to include roof cover board and below-grade insulation, as these areas are just as susceptible to air transfer as the walls.
Seal Doors and Windows
Unwanted air transfer will follow the path of least resistance. In most cases, this happens to be the transition between the wall and windows/doors. Carefully inspect your window and door frames to see if there is any cracking or degradation in the seals. If you notice anything suspect, apply a silicone-based sealant to the gaps to stop air transfer. Not only will this be an immediate solution for improved thermal performance, but it will help reduce the risk of moisture and blowing precipitation from entering the building envelope this winter.
Radiant Floor Heating
Radiant floor heating is one of the more exciting ways to create a cozy home this winter. It uses a series of subfloor electric heating mats. Controlled via an app, the mats release heat up through the floors in a consistent, stovelike manner. This helps eliminate cold pockets common to forced-air heating systems. The direct heat also warms faster and more efficiently. While the heated bathroom floor cost or any other area in which a radiant system is installed will require a bit of an upfront investment, it will pay for itself over time via reduced HVAC consumption and greater enjoyment of your space during the year’s colder months.
Window Upgrade
Sometimes, it will take more than a sealant to fix air transfer at window joints. Many of the old-fashioned wood-framed windows simply run their course after a number of years. If they have not been regularly painted and stained, UV damage and moisture absorption has likely caused them to swell and crack to the point where they need to be replaced. If this is the case, look at more robust aluminum or steel window frames this winter. They will offer the highest resistance to moisture and remain airtight to help ensure a comfortable home in the face of the harshest blizzards.
Improve the Thermal Mass
High thermal mass products are known for their utility in creating energy efficient buildings. In addition, they also play a key role in keeping a structure warm during the colder months. Materials that are high in thermal mass absorb and store heat. This can be beneficial during cold weather, as any solar heat captured during the day will be released once the nighttime temperatures become frigid. Some building materials known for having high thermal mass include concrete, brick, stone, and sod. Therefore, you can improve the thermal mass of your home by choosing insulated concrete forms (ICF) for framing, slate or concrete roofing tiles, or brick rainscreen cladding.
Install a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat offers more than convenience. It can actually be a crucial component in creating a comfortable interior this winter. By studying your usage patterns, a smart thermostat will automatically adjust to heat your area to your preferred setting. Not only does this guarantee that your home will be at the right temperature at the right moment, but it will help lower energy consumption by not heating an area unnecessarily when not in use.
Stay Cozy This Winter With Essential Home Renovations
While winter is a favorite season for many, it will quickly lose its luster if your home is not prepared to handle the cold. From HVAC servicing to installing a smart thermostat, consider any of the renovations listed above to create a more cozy interior environment this winter. For more of the latest trends shaping the home improvement industry, explore the resources at Castle Building & Remodeling for ideas and inspiration today!
Author Bio:
Sam Willis is a freelance writer that loves sharing his knowledge and expertise in residential and commercial real estate, as well as engineering, construction, and business. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia where he enjoys spending time with his wife and researching real estate trends in his free time. Sam’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a construction industry resource site.