Lower Your Utility Bills With the Simple DIY Insulation Hacks
Utility bills usually make up a fair portion of the average household's monthly expenditure. For this reason, it can be incredibly frustrating to learn that energy is being wasted through poor insulation. Luckily, there are a few simple insulation hacks that you can use to lower your monthly cost. Let’s take a closer look at 15 DIY insulation tricks that will be sure to lower your utility bills.
Seal Drafty Windows
One of the most obvious insulation hacks is sealing any drafty windows in your home. This can be done using weatherstripping or, for a short-term solution, shrink-wrap film. Drafty windows allow the warm air to flow right out of your house, forcing your heating system to pump even more heated air, which ultimately wastes unnecessary energy.
Insulate Attic Spaces
Attics are notorious for heat loss. By laying fiberglass batts or blow-in insulation between the joists, you will help insulate your home, keeping it warm during the Winter months and cooler during the Summer. This hack is a no-brainer, as the fiberglass bats are budget-friendly and easy to install, meaning that very little effort will be required for a massive overall improvement to your home’s insulation.
Install Door Sweeps and Draft Guards
You would be surprised by just how much air can escape underneath your door. To avoid this, simply attach a rubber or brush door sweep to the bottom of any exterior doors. For interior doors, you can also use fabric draft guards. Ultimately, this will maintain indoor temperatures at a stable level and reduce any wasted energy.
Use Thermal Curtains
By hanging thick and insulated curtains over your windows, you will prevent any unnecessary heat loss during the Winter and any heat gain during the Summer. While these curtains can be quite pricey, you will be sure to save money in the long run on your utility bill. Be sure to close the curtains at night, as this is when temperature regulation is the most important.
Wrap Your Water Heater
One easy way in which you can prevent any unnecessary heat loss is by wrapping your water heater in a blanket. There are specific blankets designed for this purpose, and they will help in preventing any energy loss by maintaining a set temperature.
Insulate Hot Water Pipes
You can insulate your hot water pipes by sliding foam insulation over any exposed water pipes. This simple hack will prevent your water from losing heat while traveling, keeping it hotter for longer and reducing the need to reheat, ultimately saving money on electricity.
Seal Attic Air Leaks
If you notice any air leaks in your attic, seal them using spray foam or caulk. For good measure, be sure to seal the spaces around vents, pipes, and light fixtures, as there may be smaller leaks in these areas. This will prevent any warm air from escaping, as well as any cooler air from entering.
Insulate Loft Hatch
To properly insulate your loft hatch, attach a rigid foam board or reflective insulation to its exterior. You would be surprised by just how much air escapes through this opening, allowing the cooler air in during the Winter months. As a result, this is one of the easiest, yet most effective, insulation hacks that you can use.
Use Radiator Reflectors
To help get the most out of your radiator, place reflective foil panels behind it or on any exterior walls. This helps to reflect the heat back into the room, preventing it from escaping and causing unnecessary energy wastage. Additionally, these panels are helpful in preventing any heat damage from discoloring or warping the surrounding walls.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
One upgrade that will definitely be worth the money and effort is a programmable thermostat. By replacing your old one with a smart version, your system will be able to automatically adjust heating and cooling based on your schedule, ultimately reducing any wasted energy.
Insulate Crawl Space Ducts
To help prevent any heat loss from your crawl space ducts, you can wrap them with insulation sleeves and seal any joints with foil tape. This will help keep the cooler air in during the Summer and prevent any cold air from entering your home during the frigid Winter months.
Use Flow Restrictors and Aerators
One of the biggest utility bills is water. When it comes to heating water, many households use an enormous amount of electricity through their geyser. If you want to save some energy, and therefore money, try installing a flow restrictor and aerator on your showerhead. These nifty components ultimately reduce hot water usage, without sacrificing pressure or your wallet.
Insulate Basement Rim Joists
Most of the time, basements aren’t designed with insulation in mind. As a result, many homes lose heat through gaps and openings hidden in between rim joists. To avoid this, cut and fit rigid foam insulation between the joists at the top of your basement walls. This will stop any cold air from infiltrating the area and, overall, improve your insulation.
Change Ceiling Fan Direction
This one may seem a bit redundant, but changing the direction of your ceiling fan can actually play a massive role in improving your home’s overall insulation and regulating its temperature. By setting your fan to rotate clockwise in Winter, it will push the warm air down from the ceiling, making the room feel warmer without actually having to use any additional heating and electricity.
Weatherstrip Exterior Doors
By applying adhesive-backed foam or rubber strips to your door frame, you will create a tight seal, preventing any drafts or cooler air from entering your home during particularly poor weather. This ultimately improves the energy efficiency of your home, reducing any electricity wastage.
