Winter Home Comfort Tips
After a long day, there’s nothing quite like coming home to a cozy, warm house, especially throughout these brutal winter months. Michigan in the winter can be particularly nasty, so you want to make sure your home is a comfortable haven until the weather breaks in the spring.
Plus, spending so much time in cold, dry air can lead to a variety of health issues, like frequently getting colds and/or the flu, and itchy, dry skin. Taking a few extra steps to ensure your home comfort levels are where they should be can not only improve your family’s happiness, but can improve their health, too.
Indoor Comfort Tips for the Winter Months
Instead of piling extra blankets on the bed or layering up in heavy sweaters and socks, here are just a few ways to ensure the best home comfort for your family this winter:
Check home humidity levels.
Increasing the humidity levels by using a humidifier offers a variety of benefits in homes that have dry air. For example, raising the humidity can improve overall air quality, decrease the risk for illnesses, alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms, and even help keep your skin soft and smooth. Plus, dry air can even cause the paint on your walls to crack or wallpaper to start peeling away in corners.
Look for drafts.
Common drafty areas in the home include doors, windows, and leaky ductwork. If you notice cold air seeping in in any of these places in your home, add or replace the current weather stripping to keep the warm air in and the cool air out. Leaky ducts can be properly plugged with adhesive.
Utilize your programmable thermostat.
If you have a programmable thermostat installed, winter is one of the best times to make good use of it. Increase home comfort by setting the thermostat according to your family’s schedule, which will allow the house to be warm and cozy when you arrive home from work or school. Plus, since your furnace will only run when it needs to, you’ll notice a considerable savings on your home energy bills, too!
Inspect the insulation.
Did you know your home loses the most heat through the ceiling of the top floor? This is why going into the attic to check on your current insulation is key for indoor comfort throughout the chilly winter months. Your insulation should be at least six to seven inches thick, so if you notice it looking old, worn and thin, it’s time to replace it.
Schedule furnace maintenance.
If your furnace isn’t working up to its potential, having a professional come and perform an inspection is a good idea this time of year. Maybe you’ve noticed the air coming from the vents isn’t feeling as warm as it should, or the unit outside is making some strange noises from time to time. A professional will check all the components, repair or replace any damaged parts, and will make sure your furnace is running as efficiently as it should when you need it most.
National Storage have a variety of sizes of storage units available at our locations in Michigan and Ohio for all your household storage needs. Contact us today to learn more.