It’s no secret that last winter was an ordeal of epic proportions. Thanks to a devastating polar vortex, below-freezing temperatures and record-breaking snowstorms swept most of the country. Rarely did a day go by in which you didn’t have to shovel mounds of freshly fallen snow or dress in bulky thermal clothing whenever you left the house. To make matters worse, your home’s old furnace was ill-equipped to handle such a brutal winter. All too often, it broke down, resulting in costly repair bills and an insufficiently-heated house. With another polar vortex expected to hit the U.S. this winter, it’s imperative that you take steps to keep your family nice and toasty until spring comes along. Whereas last winter’s untenable weather conditions caught everyone off-guard, you can have the advantage of going into this winter fully prepared to face whatever Mother Nature has to offer.
Upgrade to a State-of-the-Art Home Heating System
If your house’s ancient furnace has seen better days, consider upgrading to a user-friendly home heating system. Central heating systems are better equipped to evenly heat every area of your home and are less prone to clogging and breakdowns than their older counterparts. In addition, many of them can be adjusted with handy remote controls or convenient digital panels. To sweeten the deal, most central heating systems come with parts and service warranties, thus ensuring that any problems you experience are fixed swiftly and free of charge.
Install Energy-Efficient Windows
After finding an effective way to heat your home, you’ll need to prevent the warm air from escaping. This is where energy-efficient windows come in. These convenient double-paned windows are designed to keep heated air where it belongs: in your home. Furthermore, because your heating system will no longer have to put in overtime to account for escaped air, you can expect to see a noticeable decrease in your home heating bills. Energy-efficient windows can also come in handy during the summer months, when they prevent cooled air from your central air conditioner from finding its way out of your home.
Utilize Door-Jams
Even after installing energy-efficient windows, warm air is liable to escape your home through the spaces beneath your front and backdoors. To nip this problem in the bud, fill the aforementioned spaces with door-jams. These handy heating aids can effectively prevent cold air from entering your home and warm air from exiting. If you don’t feel like shelling out the cash for pre-made door-jams, bunched-up blankets and old towels often work just as well.
Unless you live in a state that enjoys year-round warm weather, it’s important to familiarize yourself with some practical wintertime survival tips. As anyone who hails from a colder part of the country can confirm, the battle against icy weather doesn’t end once you step inside. If a home is improperly heated, it can be every bit as uncomfortable as the icy tundra outside. By upgrading to a modern-day central heating system, installing energy-efficient windows and utilizing door-jams, you can keep your family warm and comfortable all winter long.