Preparing for the winter months is going to be difficult for everyone but especially this year. In light of the recent rises in energy costs, many people are already trying to plan how they are going to manage their bills this winter. It’s not going to be the easiest thing to do, however, because the prices have been so overwhelming it’s hard to know where to begin!
One of the best things that you can do is look at how you can keep your home warm this winter and often, starting with the attic is the best thing to do. The attic is at the top of the house and while it’s true that heat rises, you need to be sure that you are on top of things like roof repairs so that heat doesn’t escape. Keeping the attic warm in the winter will help to keep the rest of the house as warm as possible. Some of the things that you can do to keep your attic warm are listed for you below:
- Make sure that you inspect the space. Not many people know what’s happening in their attic but if you don’t take the time to go up there you will never learn. Making sure that you check the attic with an official inspection is important because you need to know where the air is leaking out. If you can make sure that you keep on top of this, you will be able to adequately insulate the space and do better with it. You need to know the weaknesses before you can fix anything, and with it you should check the levels of insulation at the same time.
- Get the attic insulated. If your attic isn’t going to keep the heat in, then you need to work on getting it insulated, from the roof space and below. Warmer winters need the best possible insulation and an inspection should be able to tell you where there are issues with the existing insulation so that you know what to fix. Adding mineral wool to the spaces will help to keep the warmth in and it will enable you to feel warmer and spend less money on heating, too.
- Fix any leaks. From pipes and ducts, you need to make sure that you fix all and any leaks that are occurring. You don’t want to end up overpaying for your energy because you didn’t plug the gaps, right? Checking the plumbing vents is so important, too, as you need to make sure that any and all ductwork is clean, clear and able to have great airflow.
- Make sure that you get an energy audit done. Getting an energy audit done is going to spectacularly change everything in your home. You’ll know how much energy your house uses, where the house is using energy and you’ll also learn which fixes you should be prioritizing.
- Upgrade the windows. We talked about roof repairs but what about the windows? Upgrading their glazing and ensuring that the heat isn’t escaping nor the cold air coming in is so important. You need to check how you operate your window treatment so that you make the correct adjustments.
- Close all of the access points. Rodents and other wild animals can get into your attic but if you’re talking about keeping your attic warm, in the winter, you need to make sure that rodents and critters don’t get in. If animals can get in, you’ll need to check that cold air can’t!
- Add proper ventilation. The issues that affect your attic and your home in the winter include moisture. As the temperatures fluctuate up and down, condensation can occur in your attic and you don’t want that to be the case. You need to ventilate with more than fans, however, and make sure that you have dehumidifiers in the attic where possible to keep it warm but avoid moistures. Ventilation fans will help to keep the air moving and keeping the attic warm isn’t something someone should ignore.
Warming up under insulated attics is much more comfortable and the more you plug the leaks, the more you won’t have to worry about your home being overly expensive due to the energy crisis. Don’t forget to make sure that you get this done as early as possible while the weather is still warm because the last thing that you need to worry about is not being able to heat your home effectively this winter.