Proper insulation in your home can help lower your energy bills and save you money. Even though hiring insulation experts is the best option, many people don’t have the money to go that route. If you’re not able to afford to hire a professional, there are various easy and affordable ways to lower your energy costs.
- Make Door Snakes
A door snake is an easy and inexpensive way to improve your home’s insulation. It can be placed on the ground at the base of the door where the opening is. This will stop the cold air from coming in during the winter and keep cold air inside during the summer.
- Caulk Your Vents
Although you might think that your house is insulated from the outside, it’s not that simple. Various places in your house can allow air to leak, and one of these is your bathroom and laundry room vents.
Before you start making changes to your home’s insulation, make sure that the gaps where your vents exit are sealed. Doing so will allow you to save money on your energy bills. You can also purchase a variety of silicone caulk at your local hardware store. After you’ve bought the necessary materials, seal up all of the drafts in your house and start saving money.
- Hang Thick Curtains
Unfortunately, older windows are known to lose a lot of heat from your home. However, if you can’t afford to replace your old windows, there are other ways that you can still save money on your energy bill.
One of the most effective ways to keep your home warm is by hanging heavy curtains. These will block the heat from coming in and out of your house, just like your window panes do. You can also open these curtains on sunny days to allow the light in. The sunlight can help warm your home.
- Apply Window Film
If you’re not a fan of curtains but would like to improve the insulation of your windows, consider using window film. This thin film of plastic can help keep the heat from coming in and out of your home. It can be used on both single-pane and double-pane windows.
Simply stick the window film to your window, adding a layer of insulation. This method is very cost-effective compared to replacing your old windows. Doing so will allow you to cut down on your energy bills and keep your home warm.
- Weather Strip Your Windows and Doors
Weather stripping can help improve the effective insulation of your doors and windows. You can easily find various types of weather stripping at your local hardware store. The U.S. Department of Energy has listed 14 types of weather stripping and will require home efficiency experts to install them.
There are a variety of factors that can affect which type of weather stripping will work best for your home. For instance, how frequently it is used and its type of material will determine the effectiveness.
- Wrap Your Water Pipes
Although you might think of your home’s attic or basement as potential insulation targets, you might not realize that your water pipes are also prone to losing heat. Insulation around these pipes can help keep the hot water from going into the cold air surrounding your home. This method can help you cut energy costs and keep your water heater running more efficiently.
There are various types of pipe insulation that you can use to keep the hot water from going into the cold air surrounding your home. One is a pipe sleeve, usually made of foam or rubber. You can easily wrap the insulation around the water pipes with a self-sealing adhesive.
For shorter pipes, you can also choose from various types of pipe insulation, such as cotton with foil backing, flexible foam, and bubble film. These materials are very easy to install and are comparable to the pipes sleeves.
Final Thoughts
There are many home improvement projects that you can easily do that will help lower your energy bills. Before you start working on these projects, look at your home and see if any materials can be recycled. Doing so will allow you to cut down on your costs and keep your home more energy-efficient.
