Weatherproofing your house for winter

Winter is just around the corner, and the change of season can bring many welcome transformations. But are you and your house ready for the colder weather and winter season? You may not have given it too much thought, but weatherproofing your house has many long-term benefits for a homeowner.

Older homes may not have been built to withstand current winter temperatures. According to The Guardian, "average temperatures are set to drop by 5-6 degrees Celcius in some parts of Australia's eastern states."

Here are some of the best ways to weatherproof your house for winter.

Insulation

When was the last time you took a peek at your home's insulation? Keeping this aspect of your house updated is important to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the structure. In addition, well-maintained insulation can save you money on your heating bills this winter. It is not only beneficial for wintertime but can be advantageous for summer weather as well because it keeps the cool air inside when you want that during warmer weather.

Insulation is a barrier to keeping the natural weather out of the home and keeping the desired indoor temperature. This means that even the harshest of winter conditions will have a smaller effect on the climate inside the home. According to the Sustainable Living Guide, insulation is measured on an R-rating scale. "The higher the R-value, the more resistant the insulation is to heat flowing into and out of the home and the greater the energy savings." Look for a higher value for more insulation power.

Seal windows and doors

Keep in mind that energy efficiency regulations for residential homes in Australia were not created and enforced until the 2000s.

Ensure that all your windows and doors are sealed correctly. Even the smallest gap can have a large impact on the home over time. Not only does it make your heating more efficient but it also ensures that the indoor items that are not built to withstand extreme changes in temperature stay intact. Even just applying simple weather seal tape can make a difference.

Buy a high-quality curtain to cover the windows. This investment will help you stay warm in the winter (and as a bonus, cool in the summer). If you want to go the extra mile, install a pelmet, which is a narrow border of wood that conceals curtain fittings. This can save you money and ensure that your home is more energy-efficient, regardless of when it was built.

Use your ceiling fans
While you may only think of ceiling fans as a way to keep cool in the summer, they have another secret use for the wintertime. Many people do not know that reversing a ceiling fan so that it spins anti-clockwise will force the warm air back towards the floor. Warm air wants to rise but reversing the fan will have the opposite effect. This is just one simple and cheap way to protect your family and your home during the winter months.

To learn more about homeownership, visit Ray White Surfers Paradise today.