The onset of winter is an opportune moment to commence home renovation projects. Even if the cold could keep you inside, it’s a great chance to finish those tasks that have been sitting around for a while and improve your living area.
Eager do-it-yourselfers need to find some interior renovation tasks to keep them busy, as we tend to spend more time indoors during the winter. These are some inexpensive projects you can do to increase the energy efficiency of your house and possibly even save your life.
Install a smart thermostat
It makes sense to install a “smart” or programmable thermostat if you don’t already have one. With them, you may lower the temperature during the day while nobody is home, and it will return to your preferred level by the time you arrive. You may program it to drop in temperature over night, which will save energy costs and improve everyone’s quality of sleep. Even though most thermostats have low-voltage wiring, you should still remove the fuse or turn off the breaker before beginning the installation.
Check for drafts
Does your home have any drafty or chilly areas? Light an incense stick on a windy day and move it around the home, keeping it near the baseboards, window, and door frames. Make a note of any areas where you see smoke fluttering, then return later to plug those gaps.
Give your HVAC system some TLC
It’s never pleasant to have a furnace breakdown in the dead of winter. To make sure your furnace is running as efficiently as possible, have a professional evaluate it once a year. The primary responsibility for maintaining a furnace as a homeowner is to check and change the filter before it becomes clogged. Additionally, you should check that no furniture or drapes are obstructing the airflow from your radiators or vents around the house.
Test for radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that naturally seeps into your home from the earth and is undetectable. For nonsmokers, prolonged exposure to high radon levels is the main cause of lung cancer. A radon test is the only way to determine whether it’s building up to a dangerous level in your house. Just buy a test kit or employ a service provider, and spend at least ninety-nine days conducting the test in the least used area in the house, like the family room or the bedroom in the basement. Next, have it tested to determine the radon level in your house. If the outcome is high, it is simple to reduce. Speak with a radon mitigation expert about your options for lowering your exposure.
Learn more about these home improvement tips at https://www.newscanada.com/en/Easy-home-improvements-you-can-do-in-winter-136612
Reference: https://www.newscanada.com/
Photo by Tracy Adams on Unsplash
