You’ve heard the term ”weatherizing” before, but what does it actually mean? It basically means taking steps to make your home as energy efficient as possible in regard to outside weather, be it the summer heat or the winter chill. 

Weatherization is extra important if you live somewhere with extreme temperatures! We’re all familiar with the Southeast’s muggy summers and, while winter isn’t as bad here as it is in other parts of the country, it still gets cold enough to warrant some weatherization. Keep reading for some expert tips!

How to Weatherize Your Home for Winter

Ideally, you should weatherize your home at least twice a year—once before the summer heat rolls in and once before it starts to get really cold. But preparing for wintertime is extra important since it takes a lot more energy to heat something up than it does to cool it down. 

Here’s how you can make sure your home is energy efficient:

Step #1: You Need a Baseline

It’s hard to keep track of your home’s energy usage if you don’t know what’s “normal.” You can get a home energy audit to see how much energy you’re using on a regular basis, but we suggest something far simpler—Shipshape home monitoring. This allows you to track the important equipment in your home (like your heating system!) so you know exactly how efficiently it’s working and when it might need a tuneup or replacement. This also means no more finding out the hard way that your heating system is busted on that first really-cold night!

Step #2: Insulate!

One of the best things you can do for your home energy bills is to install insulation. It goes a long way in trapping both cool air inside during the summer and warm air during the winter. If you already have insulation in your home, it might be time for a checkup! The key here is proper insulation, not just any old insulation job. 

Step #3: Seal Doors & Windows

Doors and windows just might be your home’s biggest nemesis when it comes to wasting heat. It’s time to add weatherstripping anywhere heat might leak out! And, just like with insulation, if you’ve had weatherstripping for a while, it might be time to update it. 

Step #4: Control Your Home’s Moisture Levels

Moisture plays a huge role in the temperature. If you live in the Southeast, you know this already—how many times have you said “it wouldn’t be so hot if it weren’t for the humidity?” The same goes for the winter. A wet winter feels much different than a dry one, so make sure your home isn’t holding too much moisture. This tends to be a problem in bathrooms, basements, and attics. 

Partner Up with Shipshape for a Toasty Winter

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could tell your heating system needed a repair before you needed it? You can have that peace of mind and more with Shipshape’s home maintenance solution. You can connect any appliance and monitor its performance, reliability, and maintenance needs right from your phone. You can even manage service providers and store service history! Get in touch with us to learn more. 

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