by Francis Jock

Created on: December 01, 2010

Blustering winter winds and sub-zero temperatures are a fact of life for those of us that live in the northern climes around the world. For some, the cold, ice and snow are a beckoning call to come out and play. For the rest of us, it's a time when we face high home heating bills, wearing layers of socks and thermal underclothing, and catching up on our reading by a cozy fire. Keeping your house warm on a winter's day can be a challenge when the temperatures outside drop below the freezing point. Here are some pointers on keeping the cold outside and the warmth in.

Unless your home was built during the last two decades, it's probably not overly energy efficient. It's quite likely that your home has single-pane windows, uninsulated wood  doors, a scant amount of insulation in the attic, and a basement or crawl space below that is uninsulated, as well. There's also a good possibility that there are numerous cracks and crevices in the wall, under the cabinets, and around the foundation where cold, chilling air can work its way into your home. All of these are not going to help you keep your home warm, so you need to find ways to compensate, if not correct each one of them.

The windows in your home are relatively easy to tackle. You can purchase and install inexpensive clear plastic film that covers the entire window frame, creating another layer of insulating space between the cold window and the room inside. These are shrink-fit and crystal clear, so they not only keep the cold air out, they also let the sunshine in. On the negative side, window film has to be replaced every year and is attached using double-sided sticky tape that has to be removed when spring returns.

An alternative solution to using window film is the window insert. Window inserts are clear plastic panels that fit snugly inside the widow frame. These are nearly as efficient as installing new, double-pane windows. They are held in place with small screws and brackets, making them easy to install and remove, year after year. They can be stored away at the end of the heating season and will eventually pay for themselves. Like the clear plastic window film, window inserts allow the sunshine in and keep the cold out, where it belongs.

Doors are a more difficult problem to solve, as high quality insulated doors are expensive. If you can afford to replace your old wood doors with fiberglass insulated doors, you should do so before winter. The difference will be amazing, as old wood doors are thin

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>