Carrying Out Building Work Around Your Home

Adding new insulation is often one of the best ways to make your home more energy-efficient, meaning that you spend less money on heating and cooling throughout the year. However, your home may have adequate insulation, but is still losing heating and cooling through areas other than the attic, or new insulation might not be in your budget at the moment. Whatever the case, note a few tips on making your home more energy-efficient, without actually adding new insulation.

Wrap up the hot water heater

When the water inside the home's hot water heater tank gets cool, the heater then switches on, to keep that water at a constant temperature. This happens even if the water is not in use, so your home's hot water heater may be coming on quite often while you're away for the day!

If the hot water heater is in the basement or another colder area of the home, its tank is more likely to get cool, and then cycle on more often throughout the day. To avoid this, wrap the hot water heater in an insulating blanket meant for your heater type in particular. This blanket will keep that heat inside the tank, and the heater will engage less often, saving you money on your utility bills.

Replace your home's entryway doors

An updated, solid storm door or security door may actually help to insulate the home. Security doors with their own frame will be made with thicker, denser material than standard or outdated doors, and they will fit that frame more snugly, so you lose less heating and cooling through gaps around the door.

Roller shutters

Windows are a major source of heating and cooling loss in the home, as window frames can easily shift away from the home's framework, creating gaps and holes. Thin glass in windows may also do little to block outside heat, cold, and hot sunlight.

While you can weather-strip the windows or hang up thick, heavy drapery, roller shutters are often the better option for insulating a home's windows. These shutters can form a very thick seal around the entire window, and block out heat, cold, sunlight, and even rain and high winds. Roller shutters then won't interfere with the home's interior decor, and they can even add a layer of security against potential intruders! Ask your installer for roller shutters with a thick foam core, for the most insulating properties and best energy-efficiency for your home.