Cleveland has had some awfully cold days this winter and it’s easy to see how drafty doors, windows and chimneys flood your home with cold air. A lot of heat and energy is lost to a drafty house and this will result in overall higher heating bills. But spending some time preparing your home can help you save a lot of money for the rest of winter. Here are some tips on how to find and fix drafts in your home.

• Locate the drafty areas – Walk around your house. If you’ve noticed that a room is much colder than the rest of your house, then take a close look at the windows and doors. Check the entire area around your windows and doors and see if you can find where the draft is coming from. If you have having trouble locating drafty areas, try walking around your home with a lit candle. If the flame flickers or goes out then you’ve found a draft.
• Windows – Windows are the most common place where drafts can occur. If you don’t want to spend the money to replace the windows, then easy fixes like hanging heavy curtains or installing weather strips will help reduce the drafts.
• Doors – Heat can be lost through the door frame or from the space under the door. To solve this issue, install a door sweep at the bottom of your door.
• Chimneys – If you don’t want cold air to come down the chimney, be sure to install doors on your fireplace and cover when not in use.

These are all small and inexpensive ways to weatherize your home. Taking the time to find and fix drafts in your home is a sure way to lower your heating bills and increase your comfort.

If you have any questions about finding and fixing drafts in your home, give us a call at 216-663-6462.