With the approaching winters, you will have a long checklist of things you should be doing. Upgrading or repairing your insulation is one of the most important things in this list. Here are 4 things that you cannot do without during the chilling winter months.

1. Check the Attic Insulation

If your attic is not already insulated, make sure you have it insulated right now. If you already have it, it is time you have it checked for any needs for repair or upgrade.

Especially, older homes will either lack attic insulation or it will not be efficient. This could cause the loss of large amount of heat from the roof. Get your attic insulation checked by professionals. Many of them offer free evaluation report and quote.

2. Block All the Leaks

You could save a lot on your energy bills by blocking all the leaks. A little caulking and weather-stripping can go a long way. It will not cost you anything, and you can do most of the job yourself. If your home is not properly sealed, you could be losing up to 15% on your heating costs.

Air leaks could also be taking place through the electric wall switches and plugs. You could use foam gaskets that go behind the switch plate and prevent leakages.

Your doors, windows and attic are not the only place from where you could be losing air. If the switches and power outlets are not well insulated, they could also be causing significant draftiness.

Draughts are one of the biggest causes of flu and colds. Even the tiniest opening can cause significant amount of heat loss. Using draught stoppers on door bottoms and masking tape over window gaps can help in covering most of these gaps. Also add draught strips on your windows and keep them closed for preventing any heat escape.

Also ensure that the insulation in the roof and crawlspace is also intact!

3. Insulate All the Pipes & Ducts

All pipes, ducts and wires entering the ceiling, floor or wall is going to waste energy in one way or the other. Plumbing vents are one of the biggest culprits because they start from underneath the floor and go up to the roof. Make sure to seal them off with weather-stripping or calking.

Do you have drain pipes or uncovered water in areas which are not insulated? This is often the case in the crawlspace and outside walls in many homes. It is recommended to insulate them.

It is recommended to wrap the pipes using electrical heating tape before insulating them. This will help ensure that the heat remains in the pipes for longer durations. This will prevent the hot water heater to work harder.

4. Allow Sunlight into your Home

Allowing more sunlight into your home can certainly help in reducing your heating costs. It will require adding more windows and applying black paint around to create heat collectors.

So make sure to follow these tips before the winters are here.