Tips from the pros on insulating for the winter

Summer is officially over and winter is not that far away — which means it’s the perfect time to prepare for chilly temperatures and blustery weather. Insulating your home properly to keep cold air out and warm air in is the number one way to help control your heating bills.

If you don’t want to replace your windows, but you think they could use a little beefing up in draft and heat loss prevention, here are some tips:

1. CAULK— for obviously leaky and breezy window frames, use an acrylic caulk to create a tight seal around the window.
2. DRAPE— cellular shades or heavy curtains drawn when the sun is down (or hidden behind stormy weather) provide another layer to keep warm air in and cold air out. Tip: keep curtains open during the day to take advantage of the sun’s heat, and drawn at night.
3. CLOSE— make sure vents and flues to the outside are closed whenever possible and keep the doors to closets and unused rooms closed to keep warm air in the areas where you spend time.
4. PROGRAM— if you don’t already have one, consider installing a programmable thermostat that will automatically reduce the temperature at night and other times lower temperatures are acceptable.

For more ideas on how to save while staying warm, visit these resources:

Bill and Kevin Burnett at Inman News: Best way to insulate windows

Las VegasReview-Journal: Fight the battle of rising heating costs

Apartment Therapy: 5 Ways to Insulate Your Windows For Winter

HeatingOil.com: Tips to Reduce Your Winter Heating Oil Bill