Winterizing Doors and WIndows

     Gaps in doors and windows, tiny gaps can let cold air in, warm air out and blow the top off your electric bills.  Closing these gaps, insulating windows and doors can keep the home a constant temperature in your control and reduce payments to energy companies.  Seriously, if you don't own stock in power corporations, why put money in the pockets of those who do?  

     I always recommend taking first steps at home with items you may already have or can obtain at a very low cost before calling in the glaziers.  Double paned windows are a great investment.  They are energy efficient but replacing existing windows is costly.  

     Start by caulking all windows and doors.  Fill gaps that allow air to pass through.  Use a silicone that stays flexible and if you have already painted the walls, use the clear caulk.  While you have the caulk and gun handy, caulk the baseboards as you go from window to window.  I have titled this post "winterizing windows and doors" but you will find that this one little step of caulking and sealing the doors windows and baseboards will also pay you in the summer as it keeps the air you have cooled in the house with you.  

     I have posted this tip to add insulation to windows with bubble wrap.  It's so easy and affordable it wants to be posted again!  I have also found that Dollar Tree (so, almost any 'everything for a dollar" store) has an office supply aisle with shipping materials.  You can get a roll of small bubble green packing material for a dollar!  The color adds a glow to the room during the day and as well as insulation, adds additional privacy in case your curtains are drawn.  The best part is, it actually works.  

     Windows can be insulated with window tinting used in cars.  I have personally used aluminum foil one year as a back drop for our family Christmas tree.  The neighbors went wild.  They thought it looked ghetto.  Then they saw the living room from inside and said yes, it was lovely reflecting the lights, but they still were in a fit about how it looked from outside.  So, I suggest you may find window tint at your local hardware store, but Limo tint is what you want when you want no one to see in at all.  A black back drop is just as stunning as the foil, but it allows you to see out.  As a side note, the tinting will spare all furnishing and drapery from the destructive rays of the sun.  

www.diynetwork.com

home sewn drapes

     So, while we are on the subject, don't overlook insulating the door.  Many doors have a widow or glass side panels or are actually mostly glass.  If you are concerned about what the neighbors may judge when they see your front door covered in insulating material, it doesn't have to be bubble wrap.  Windows can be insulated with Glass tint, usually seen on car windows, curtains and something I just found online called door dressings.  

     www.doordressing.com is a new website that makes custom sewn door coverings.  The coverings hang to the outside to amuse your neighbors and express who you are.  They hang over the top of the door and are weighted on the inside to stay put.  I met Mitzi the other day at the local Hobby Lobby.  I think she has a clever idea that turns out to be more than just another pretty face.  These door dressings really are unique and lovely but they are also multi purpose as they insulate and give privacy to those windowed doors.  Give her a click see, she does custom fabric work!