How to Warm Up an Older House

If you live in an older home, there is a good chance that your home may get a little chilly come the winter months.  Here's some tips on a few ways to get your older home a little better insulated so you can stay warm and cozy, courtesy of our friends at Zillow.

1. First, get an energy audit

The first step in any good retrofit of your older home is to get an energy audit done.  An energy audit will show you just exactly where and how you are losing your heat - by warm air escaping, or cooler air entering.

Some utility companies do this for free, so check with your local providers first to see if that is the case.  If not, you may want to hire a professional auditor.  Professional auditors often do more than just locate your problem sources.  They may suggest plans of action for your specific problems.

If an audit is too costly, you can try to find the leaks yourself by simply using the smoke from a stick of incense.  Wave it near windows, doors, and anywhere else there might be a gap.  You can then tell if it blows inwards, or gets sucked outwards - both are a sign of a leak that you can treat with some insulation.

2. Check doors and windows

Sealing gaps around your doors and windows are the easiest (and cheapest) step to take in containing your warm air.  Use weather stripping around any doors or windows that are loose, and be sure and caulk the holes in window sashes.

If you want to seal the window entirely, try using plastic sheeting kits from your local home center or gardening store.

Installing some heavier drapes or blinds, and keeping them closed can also help contain some heat.  Even consider sectioning off larger rooms with drapes to help contain some more heat.

3. Insulate

Older homes are the number one culprit for having suspiciously weak insulation.  If your home lacks adequate insulation, you can hire trained installers to place some non-flammable foam resin inside your walls.  This means, no mass reconstruction of your home, and according to many installers, the process can take less than a day.

It is important to know, however, that older homes were designed to maintain some airflow, which sealing them up too tight can inhibit.  Too much insulation can lead to moisture buildup - something no homeowner wants to deal with.  Be sure and bring this up with your energy auditor to ensure you will not be over insulating your home.

4. Install a thermostat

Thermostats are extremely useful in regulating the heat flow in your home.  They are, essentially, what makes your home heating system smart.  It may seem a little counterintuitive to use a high-tech, modern device like this in an older home, but it can definitely help reduce your energy costs simply by programming pre-set heating temperatures.

5. Install radiant floor-heating

Courtesy of Warmboard.com

This is becoming a more common solution to the "drafty old home."  Radiant floor heating literally sits underneath your floor, giving your home a consistently warm feeling throughout the house.  It has fantastic energy-efficiency, and is considered a very cozy addition to your home.

Older homes actually can be retrofitted to include this feature, though traditionally this is a feature found in newer homes.  In an older home, you would instal what is known as a "Warmboard R" which are subfloor panels designed for remodels.  They transfer heat from the water in the system's tubing directly into the inside of your home.  Additionally, they typically make existing floorboards more rigid and even.

Looking to retrofit your colder, older home?  Need references to professionals in your area?  Don't hesitate to send me an e-mail or give me a call.