Imagine being in a store, eating at a restaurant or watching a movie in a theater and experiencing a cold draft. We all know how uncomfortable that can be, but it becomes especially unpleasant at home, when gaps in your windows and doors create fluctuating temperatures and give you the chills.
Whilst you may run into the room to get a sweater, wrap yourself in a blanket, or drink a hot beverage to apply a temporary fix to your chills, these temporary measures will not solve the problem caused by that cold draft. Watch your energy costs rise, and you may be motivated to do something more permanent about the problem.
According to the U.S. Energy Department, the average home utility bill for a family of four is about $1,900 a year. But much of the energy homeowners are paying for is wasted through windows, doors, ducts and walls that are not properly sealed or insulated.
Cold drafts during the winter months can really overload your home's heating system.
You specify a temperature when you set the thermostat, and the system will simply have to work harder to maintain that temperature if you have a leaking air problem. The longer the system stays on, the higher your costs.When it comes to energy efficiency, homeowners can discover a low cost alternative, which takes only a few minutes to put in place and can significantly reduce your costs. Draft stoppers should be placed under and around the doors and windows and they are shown to reduce energy costs by up to 25%. Cold air can be blocked from entering your home.
Draft blockers will be truly effective if you use them to properly seal your home. That means that in addition to the obvious places, such as around the bottom of your front and back entryways, place them next to the sliding glass door, the attic door, the garage door, the basement door. Whilst you're at it, make sure you apply draft blockers to the windows.
Often as a home gets older it tends to settle, and this can result in a cold draft within the home. During the settling process, gaps can occur, compromising the efficiency of the window or the door. These gaps may be small, but they are enough to allow the airflow to circle in or out. Don't heat the outdoors, fix the problem!
A draft stopper is a very economical and long-lasting way to fix the problem of a cold draft in your home. These items are flexible and tough, require no installation or maintenance beyond an occasional light washing. These items provide many benefits, including a reduction in heating and air conditioning bills and represent a way to cure your window and door drafts permanently.
How to Warm Up a Home's Cold Draft