7 Easy Ways to Winterize Your Home

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck® brand for PayPerPost. All opinions are 100% mine.

The school year is in full swing and the outdoor temps keep dropping. That means one thing – winter is rapidly approaching and it’s time to weatherize the home. Did you know that according to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating (or cooling) a space accounts for slightly under half of the energy use in a typical American home? This means that heating a home is the biggest energy expense for most households so weather-proofing the home is a great way to keep the heat in – and the money in your pocket. From protecting the water lines to installing the Duck® brand Roll-On® Window Insulation Kit, see how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home today. 

1. Tune up the HVAC system! Most HVAC companies offer a twice-per-year service to tune up the heating & air conditioning systems in the house. Take advantage of this service to ensure your appliances are in working order before the brunt of winter. While you’re tending to the furnace, be sure you’re changing that furnace filter regularly. Every three months is a common interval, but read the directions on your particular filter. Also, use a programmable thermostat (or better yet, a smart thermostat) to ensure that your home’s set temperature is designed to maximize comfort & cost savings during the day and night. A good rule of thumb is to set the thermostat to 78 during the summer and to 68 during the winter, but of course, these numbers will vary by individual preference.

2. Apply the Duck® brand Roll-On® Window Insulation Kit! Did you know that during the colder months, windows become a prime spot for energy loss? In fact, around 2/3 of Americans live in a home that hasn’t been fully weatherized. Don’t let all that heat – and money – escape! Our 1950’s home has windows that are pretty drafty and I wanted to improve the insulation of my windows so I decided to install the Duck® brand Roll-On® Window Insulation Kit. I love that this easy-to-use kit makes it simple to establish a insulating barrier between the outdoor air and the indoor air> The kit comes with a Roll-On® insulating film (with a pre-taped edge for simple application) and window tape. The only other supplies I needed to grab are a pair of scissors and a hair dryer.

The first step is to apply the tape along the sides and bottom of the window frame. I love that I don’t need to bother with measuring anything and each kit comes with enough material to insulate three 3’x5′ windows.

Next, I took the pre-taped crystal clear film and adhered it to the top frame of the window, pressing along the taped portion to ensure good adhesion.

Then, I peeled the paper backing off the tape (along the sides & bottom of window) and fully unrolled the plastic film, pulling it taut all the way down the window.

Next I used my hair dryer to shrink the film and improve the adhesion. I can’t believe how quick & easy this process was!

Once the film shrinks, it nearly disappears and looks seamless. What a great way to improve the energy efficiency of our windows!

It took me under ten minutes to get this installed – no special skills or tools required! Make your own home more comfortable this year with Duck® brand Roll-On® Window Insulation Kit – it’s easy and affordable.

For a detailed video on the installation process, check this out:

By the way, Duck® brand is hosting a fabulous giveaway right now. Use the widget below to enter for a chance to win:

• 1 Duck® Brand Roll-On® Window Insulation Kit
• 1 Duck® Brand Socket Sealer®
• 1 Duck® Brand MAX Strength Silicone Weatherstrip Seals
• 1 Duck® Brand MAX Strength Clear Triple Draft Seal

Duck Brand Weatherization Prize Pack giveaway!

Good luck, friends!

3. Install weatherstrip taping! To insulate the doors, install some weatherstrip tape along the inner frame. It’s an easy installation and you can find various widths & colors at the home improvement store. In mere minutes, you can add weatherstripping to the doors in your home to keep drafts out – and more money in your pocket!

4. Clean those gutters! Did you know that gutters full of leaves & debris will be prime spots for ice dams? Get those gutters cleaned before winter gets going. If you have a leaf blower, it can be used to clear out the gutters.

5. Hang blackout curtains! Blackout curtains are much more efficient than standard curtains at preventing heat loss. Keep the cold air outside and the warm air inside by hanging blackout curtains on your windows. There are so many gorgeous designs at the store nowadays – when it comes to curtains, don’t sacrifice style for energy efficiency.

6. Protect the water lines! When the temperatures dip, don’t neglect those water lines that pass through any unheated areas of your home. As the ambient temperature dips below the freezing point, that water may freeze, potentially cracking the pipe. If you can shut the water to that section of pipe, do it. If you can’t shut the water to that section of pipe, purchase and install special pipe insulation- it wraps around the pipe to reduce the likelihood of freezing.

7. Reduce drafts under doors! An easy way to protect against drafts underneath doors is to use a draft blocker that slides into place. There’s no complicated installation and you can even throw the cover in the washing machine to make clean-up a breeze!

I hope these tips have inspired you to improve your home’s insulation this year. Now, I’d love to hear from you. What steps have you taken to winterize your home? Have you ever used the Duck® brand Roll-On® Window Insulation Kit? What is your best tip for winterizing a home?

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