With winter just around the corner and already a cold chill in the air, it’s time to think about battening down the hatches and preparing for the cold season. Doors, and also windows, are typically insulation weak points. Even a small gap can cost a lot of warmth over time, create unhealthy drafts and generally make you and your home cold.
To avoid suffering through the winter, there are actions you can take to prepare for the cold and mitigate the weak points in your insulation. Here are the top tips we’ve seen for insulating your doors and windows during the winter months:
- Draft Snakes
Growing up I remember that my mother would make all our draft snakes herself, though I’m sure it’s possible to buy them from a variety for stores these days. The cutely named draft snake is simply a piece of cloth stuffed with a soft filler, which then lies across the foot of the door.
Its purpose is to seal off the gap that exists between floor and door. Most interior doors have this gap and it can be the source of constant drafts and cold moving around the house. The simple but effective draft snake makes it less possible for the air to move through the gap. This results in heat being kept in and cold being kept out.
- Rubber sealant
If you’ve got gaps in your window frames that are letting in cold air then your best bet is to apply some rubber sealant to the gap. You can purchase rubber strips from any decent hardware store. You will need to cut a strip the exact dimensions of your window and then apply it.
The stuff is cheap and effective at keeping out cold, however, when removing them paint might be peeled off – something to think about in the summer time.
- Curtains
Thick, heavy curtains are a great way to keep out the cold. Curtains can, of course, be put up around windows, but you might also want to consider hanging curtains over doors that lead to the outside. A heavy curtain concealing an entrance/exit will act as a barrier to the cold at times when the door is open.
Tastefully done, a curtain is also an intriguing interior design feature that will add a homely touch to your house.
If you have some really innovative tips for keeping out the cold this winter then please share in the comments section below. We’d love to know how you keep your home warm during the wintertime.
