How to Keep Your House Warm This Winter

Posted by Ecostar Insulation on January 18, 2018

Winter in Ontario often sees the mercury drop below -15, making it important to keep your house warm this winter. Having a warm and cozy home seems like an obvious wish for any homeowner, but our homes aren’t always built to withstand the whistling winter wind and snow. Homes can have air leaks and cracks that affect its ability to keep warm air inside, they can be drafty by windows and doors, or your furnace may be running inefficiently. To keep your house warm this winter, EcoStar Insulation has a number of tips to help you achieve a more comfortable, cozy place to retreat from a winter wonderland.

Heating

From October to April most homes in the northern hemisphere need some sort of indoor heating to remain comfortable, and there are a couple of ways you can heat your home efficiently and effectively for maximum comfort. To begin with, check the temperature on your thermostat - turning it down a few degrees and snuggling up in a wooly sweater or under a throw can save you a lot of money in the long run. If it’s programmable, set your thermostat to a lower temperature overnight when you’re tucked in bed.

Windows and Doors

Ensure that your weatherstripping is up to date and in good repair. You can help keep your house warm this winter by preventing heat loss through leaky seals. Opening your curtains and letting the sun shine in can raise the temperature indoors, and closing them at night with specialized insulating curtains can help conserve the heat you’ve built up during the day.

Furniture

Make sure that furniture in your living room, bedrooms, and other spaces isn’t blocking or covering heat registers and returns. Furniture like a couch or bed can absorb heat and block air circulation, resulting in colder rooms.

Seal Air Leaks and Drafts

Making sure that any air leaks and gaps are sealed have can make a big difference in the winter months. When air leaks from your home, your furnace needs to continually run to replace it, resulting in greater inefficiency and a drain on your pocket book.

Add Insulation to Your Attic, Roof and Pipes

At EcoStar Insulation, our top tip to keep your house warm this winter is to add insulation to your home. Many homes in the GTA have old, inefficient products in their attics or have been under insulated in the attic, basement, or other spaces - in fact, most homes lose up to 25% of their heat through their attic. EcoStar offers two types of insulation to homeowners looking to improve their energy efficiency and indoor comfort: spray foam insulation and blown in insulation. Spray foam insulation is one of the top rated products on the market today, providing a high R-Value and superior longevity and energy returns; one of the best features of spray foam is that it also seals air leaks and cracks by acting as a vapor barrier and insulator in one. Blown in insulation is a great product to top up attics, is quick to install, and is fire resistant.

These five tips for staying warm indoors can have a big effect on your indoor comfort and on the energy efficiency of your home. If you’re interested in learning more about how to best keep your house warm this winter or how new insulation can help, please get in touch and an EcoStar representative would be happy to tell you more.