By Brian Livingston, community@laurelleaderall.com
Sitting on the couch snuggling with your significant other is a romantic thing to do when the weather is cold and nasty outside. But cuddling for warmth instead of for more amorous reasons means that maybe you should have taken care of those chilling drafts that rob the home of that toasty feeling.
“Winterizing your home is relatively inexpensive and easy to the point most anyone can do it,” said Aubrey Gardner of Phillips Home Supply on North 16th Avenue in Laurel. “You don’t have to be a carpenter or contractor to weather strip a door or window.”
Weather stripping, caulking and adding insulation can produce immediate results both on the comfort level inside a home and in terms of the electric bill.
“The harder it is to heat your home the more electricity you are going to use,” said Gardner. “So to help out your heating unit, invest a few dollars on some things that will keep the warm air in and the cold air out.”
Gardner said many homes in Laurel and Jones County have older windows and doors in addition to being elevated above ground, unlike a home situated on a concrete slab. It only takes a few drafts in a home to turn it into a freezer.
“Start with the obvious places around windows and doors. Cold air creeping underneath doors are a main concern. Weather stripping and caulking around windows where the old caulk has lost its seal can be done very quickly,” Gardner said.
And don’t forget around that window air conditioner unit.
As far as underneath the house, skirting can block freezing air that can do much more than just make the floors cold.
“Don’t forget your pipes that are exposed to the air,” Gardner warned. “With today’s insulation options, it is very easy to get some sort of wrap around the pipes to keep them from freezing up and breaking.”
Insulation in the attic would be another option although it may not be feasible right now. Gardner said insulation tends to settle out, cutting down on its sealing qualities. Going in and adding another layer would be smart.
“Adding insulation to the attic and maybe changing out single pane windows for double paned ones, or adding an insulated storm door may not be an option just yet, but those are things that can be done that will make a world of difference later on,” said Gardner.
