Your home’s insulation can be improved, which can help you save money by lowering your energy costs. But, hiring a pro to install the insulation can be more expensive than you can afford. We provide solutions for you if you’re seeking for economical ways to reduce your energy expenditures. To assist you reduce your energy costs, we gathered 15 simple DIY insulating options.
Make a Door Snake
One of the simplest and least expensive ways to improve your home’s insulation is using a door snake. You may prevent chilly air from entering your home during the winter by caulking the crack under your door. The door snake only has to be set down before you’re done.
Door snakes are available for purchase, but what’s the fun in that? You can create your own with supplies that you most likely already own. All you need is some fabric—old garments that have been upcycled would do—and some dry beans or grains. So, here is the procedure.
Look for some fabric or used garments that you can recycle. A rectangular piece of cloth that is about 35 inches long and 8 inches wide should be cut from anything. Make a tube out of the fabric by sewing it down one edge of your rectangle. Then close one end by sewing. Your tube should now be inside out with the seams on the inside. (If the sleeves or pants legs on your repurposed clothing are the proper size, you can skip most of the cutting and stitching!)
The tube will now be filled with rice or dried beans, depending on what you have on hand. After your tube is full, seal the remaining side with a stitch. And presto!
Caulk Your Vents
Very likely, you believe that your home is completely enclosed. That might not be the case, though. There are several little spaces where air leaks can occur, increasing your energy costs. One typical location is close to the vents in your bathroom and laundry area.
Check it out by stepping outside your home. If the opening where your vents exit is shut or not, you should be able to see it. Be at ease if it isn’t. It is simple to correct. Simply go to your neighborhood hardware shop and purchase some silicone caulk. When you get back home, stop spending money and start caulking up all the drafts.
Hang Up Heavy Curtains
Our windows let a lot of heat escape, especially if your home has older, less energy-efficient windows. Don’t give up though if you can’t yet afford to switch to more energy-efficient windows. You can insulate those windows in different ways to reduce your energy costs.
A chic technique to preserve your home’s vital heat is to hang thick curtains in the windows. The cloth will function similarly to additional window panes in preventing heat transfer between the interior and exterior. On bright days, you should open your curtains to let in the sunshine so that it can warm your house using free solar energy.
Not only can curtains block out the cold in the winter. They can also make your rooms cooler in the summer by helping to obscure the sun.
Apply Window Film
Window film is an alternative to curtains if you prefer a more minimal look for your windows. You wouldn’t imagine that a thin plastic layer could have such a big impact, yet it does. Old single-pane or even double-pane windows benefit greatly from the installation of window film.
Just sticking the window film to your window is all that is required to install it. How simple was that? Applying the film results in the installation of an additional layer of insulation, effectively turning a single-pane window into a double-pane window at a lower cost than buying and installing new windows.
Add Weather Stripping To Your Doors and Windows
Weather stripping can be used to increase the efficiency of windows and doors. There are several different kinds of weatherstripping that are easily accessible at your neighborhood hardware shop. There are fourteen distinct types of weatherstripping listed on the U.S. Department of Energy website.
The type of weatherstripping is ideal for your house depends on a number of factors. What you are sealing, how frequently it is used, heck, even style can play a role.
But once you’ve chosen the right material, the actual installation is rather simple. Several materials are easy to peel and stick after being cut to length. Just keep in mind to cut once after measuring twice!
Insulate Your Patio Doors
Patios are frequently temporary places. You can assist reduce your heating bills by caulking any patio doors you don’t use during the winter. Now, I’m not recommending that you take dramatic measures, like board your door. Simply get some hard foam board, and you’re done.
You may get rigid foam board, a lightweight, insulating material, at a hardware shop. Depending on the level of insulation you require, it is available in a range of thicknesses. You can put your board in your patio doorway once you have it. By doing this, you can prevent heat from escaping through your door.