DON’T LET THE HEAT OUT
Does the thought of shivering through the winter make you shudder? It’s not too late to invest in some energy-efficient winterizing projects to keep your home warm and comfortable throughout the colder months. Bruce Young, an Icynene product expert, offer
1 Invest in a programmable thermostat
While instinct may urge you to increase the heat during winter and keep your home toasty all day long, that’s not always costeffective. Investing in a programmable thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature remotely, lowering the setting when the house is empty, and saving money in the process.
Modern thermostats let you monitor the indoor temperature of your home online or via your smartphone. By keeping the temperature low when no one is home and programming the thermostat to increase the temperature when everyone returns, you could notice a 10 per cent drop in your heating costs.
2 Easy prep can prevent big problems
The cold winter weather can often play a role in creating problems you did not know existed. Colder temperatures and increased precipitation both play into why the elements are harsher on a house. Simple steps such as cleaning eavestroughs and getting your furnace unit inspected and cleaned will help your furnace function more effectively and last longer.
3 Seal the leaks
Drafts throughout your house will literally make you shiver — especially if you knew that an unsealed home can leak enough air to fill two blimps everyday. Sealing your home’s tiny cracks and crevices around doors and windows, with the help of spray foam insulation, can help reduce the possibility of drafts.
Spray foam insulation works well in all climates to fill every gap to stop air leakage and help reduce the strain on HVAC equipment. As a solution that performs year-round, spray foam insulation helps maintain a comfy temperature while helping to control monthly heating and cooling expenses.
4 Prevent ice dams
Major damage can result from ice damming, so it’s never too early to start thinking about a long-term solution. Ice damming occurs when warm indoor air escapes through the roof and melts the snow on shingles. The water then refreezes as it runs off the roof, creating a barrier of ice at the edge.
Shovelling snow or chipping ice away can threaten life, limb and roof, so it’s best to consider more permanent solutions. Replacing traditional attic insulation with open-cell spray foam insulation can help mitigate air loss.
5 Start from the bottom
No matter how much snow, rain or ice Mother Nature dumps on us this winter, ensure your home is protected — top to bottom. To help reduce the risk of water damage, you can install closedcell spray foam insulation in basements, which can help play a role in reducing the risk of bulk water seeping into your home.
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency has identified closed-cell spray foam insulation as a flood-resistant material that can be used in your home.