As mornings grow crisper and temperatures drop, we find ourselves shuffling from one hub of warmth to another, cutting down the time spent in low temperatures and biting winds by as much as possible. Thus, we expect the apartment we return home to at the end of the day to be our castle of warmth and coziness. By taking some time to winterize your apartment, you can ensure that the cold will stay out and the heat will stay in – without incurring a ludicrous heating bill the next month!
- Check the heating vents. Make sure that there are no couches, tables, or any other furniture pieces obstructing the flow of air through your heating vents and keeping much-needed heat from making its way into your rooms. In addition to clearing the vents of any obstructions, consider changing the air filter if it is dirty. A clogged air filter will make your heating system work harder to pump warm air into the room, driving your already-high heating bill even higher during the cold winters.
- Close and insulate the windows. As common-sense as it may sound, check all the windows in your apartment to make sure that they are closed and locked – and that they remain that way throughout the winter. A lot of heat in the apartment can be lost through cracks and gaps in the window frames or through the thin windowpanes themselves. To fill in cracks and gaps in between the frame, get some weatherstripping material from your local home improvement store – these materials are usually cheap and the insulating effects are long lasting. You can also look into window insulation kits that allow you to insulate your thin windowpanes or sliding glass doors with plastic lining to reduce the amount of heat that escapes.
- Draft-proof the doors. One of the places where heat escapes and cold air enters most easily is through the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor. To keep your hot air in, install a door sweep or draft-stopper – both of which can be found easily at a home improvement store. Be sure to check in with your landlord before making any major changes or modifications to your apartment!
- Use interior design to your advantage. While it’s a great idea to open the curtains and let the sunlight bring some natural warmth to your apartment during the day, nighttime requires much more insulation. Thick, dark curtains over your biggest heat-leaking windows will help trap heat in the apartment – think heavy fabrics like velvet. In addition to thick curtains, consider throwing down thick, plush rugs in the living room and bedroom where there’s the most foot traffic. We can all agree that walking barefoot on icy-cold floors is high on the list of winter unpleasantries!
By taking little steps to insulate your fortress of warmth, you can enjoy a cozy, comfortable winter indoors. Have more apartment winterizing tips? Share them with us on Facebook or Twitter!
