How to ensure your home stays warm throughout winter

(BPT) – Putting off winterization efforts can lead to higher utility bills and fluctuating indoor temperatures over the cold winter months.

Drafts and gaps in insulation coverage can be a major contributing factor to higher utility bills and can hinder the performance of your furnace. Warm air continually escapes the home due to these gaps, forcing the furnace to work overtime to compensate. In addition to this, the U.S. Department of Energy suggests air leakage contributes to potential moisture problems that can affect occupant health and the home’s durability.

So how can you ensure that your home stays warm and your family remains comfortable throughout winter? Caulking and weather-stripping are two of the most popular and common techniques that can help address air leaks. Additionally, having your furnace equipment professionally maintained is another simple measure. However, building experts will suggest solutions that go further in terms of air-sealing.

High performance insulation
One of the most effective methods to eliminate air leakage and live comfortably during the colder months is ensuring your home is insulated with a high performance insulation solution. Traditional insulation is prone to leaving gaps and absorbing moisture, which in turn can have a significant impact on occupants while allowing for significant energy loss. Replacing your home’s insulation with a high-performance material such as spray foam insulation, will both insulate and air seal the home and lead to immediate cost savings. Insulation experts from Icynene suggest that quality spray foam insulation can noticeably reduce heating and cooling bills, which continue over the long-term.

Installed by professionals, spray foam insulation, like that available from Icynene, works well in all climates to completely seal the building, filling gaps to stop air leakage and help reduce the strain on your furnace (or air conditioner during warmer months). As a long-term solution, spray foam insulation helps maintain a comfortable temperature year round while helping to control monthly heating and cooling expenses. Thanks to spray foam insulation’s air-sealing qualities, homeowners can reduce the size of their heating and cooling equipment since less effort is required to heat or cool the home, according to InsulationSmart.com.

While air leakage can cause energy bills to sky-rocket, a well-insulated home and economical winterizing can help you get through the cold winter months. Homeowners can learn the five easy steps of selecting the right insulation for their home on icynene.com.