I have lived in my house for just over 10 years and every winter I have had the same problem: the old wood sliding glass door leaks in super cold air that freezes my family’s toes and probably jacks up our heating bill. This year I finally had it; I broke down and bought some insulation tape thinking “this has got to be better than nothing.” Well, lo and behold, it solved the issue! That simple solution to a years-long issue sparked the idea for this blog post. Sometimes, the small things can go a long way! As we go into the new year, let’s break down some of these things that could help make your home just a little more comfortable and cozy.

Leaky Doors and Windows

Just like my sliding door, many older homes have windows and door frames that have begun to leak over time. Something as simple has a door sweep can do wonders, and there are several types available. The simplest one is the tube style that you can place at the base of the door to help block any drafts. These are nice as they can be moved easily, but they don’t give a tight seal. An easy and very cost effective way to seal the bottom of a door is to add a stick-on or screw-on door sweep. We added one to our home and saw a drastic change. Another simple solution for sliding doors, or any door for that matter, is stick on felt. There are different thicknesses to fill the gap as needed.

Have you ever sat in front of a window and felt a small breeze? Maybe your windows aren’t even that old, but it’s still cold here in Minnesota! Since we get some pretty cold days, sometimes no matter how much sealant you have, the cold may still get in. It is still a good idea to check the sealant around your windows both inside and out. If it’s winter time you won’t be able to do anything outside, but inside you can either replace the current sealant or add caulking cord around the frame. I recently did this on a few of my windows and that has made a difference. I will add a more permanent sealant in warmer weather, but for now it is working great.

Blocked Registers

Something we often see in homes while inspecting is HVAC registers that are blocked. Your home’s HVAC system works in a cycle. Air is brought into the HVAC from within the home, heated or cooled, then sent throughout the house. It is then brought back into the HVAC system via return ducting. If any portion of this system is blocked or hindered, it can change the comfort level within the home. Most of the time you should be able to tell if a register is the supply because it will have adjustable louvers (the angled slats in the vent) where a return will have fixed louvers. Another easy way is that the return register is the more dirty one as it is drawing air back into the system. Bonus tip: cleaning your registers also helps with the efficiency of the entire system!

Routine Maintenance

There are a lot of little things that we often overlook when it comes to home maintenance. How many times have you forgotten to add salt to your water softener? Or change the filter in your fridge? Or change the batteries in your smoke detectors? I know I have. A small thing that could go a long way would be to hire someone to do those routine maintenance items for you. Marigold Home Services offers that service for you! A trained professional will come out to your house every quarter and perform a whole list of items. Take a look at Marigold Home Services for more information.

Final Thoughts

It’s amazing how just a few small things can go a long way to help make your home more comfortable. If you are not sure where to start, give us a call and we would love to come take a look!