You love the original hardwood floors and charming pocket doors in your gorgeous older home, but boy, does it get cold in the winter. Though you may think that this is just a part of living in a vintage abode, Elizabeth Finkelstein, co-founder of Cheap Old Houses and author of “Cheap Old Houses: An Unconventional Guide to Loving and Restoring a Forgotten Home,” said older properties don’t have to be freezing.
“There is nothing inherently drafty about old houses; in fact, many of them are built with stronger, old growth wood, brick and plaster that are far better insulators than cheaper modern materials,” Finkelstein told HuffPost. “However, deferred maintenance may mean that spaces are no longer airtight, which can lead to drafts.”
If air is coming into your space, it makes sense that during the cooler months, you feel extra chilly. Steve Cymbalsky, founder of Brownstone Home Inspection and The Tinker’s Wagon wood door restoration and repair in Brooklyn, New York, added that because of atmospheric pressure (specifically the stack effect), warmer air is pushed up inside homes, ultimately escaping through the roof.
“This system is at work all year long, but intensifies in the winter as cooler air enters the house and is warmed,” Cymbalsky told HuffPost. “To minimize stack effect, it is not only important to reduce openings for air to enter at the bottom of the house, but also on higher floors in the house.”
To increase the heat in your home this winter, both Finkelstein and Cymbalsky emphasized the importance of blocking out places where cold air can creep in and increasing insulation to contain the warmth within your home. If you’re looking to up your heat retention for the next few months, read on for these expert’s guidance and suggestions.
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If you're super handy (as Cymbalsky is), he said you can make your own insulated doorstop by buying a stain-grade doorstop from a lumber shop then rabbeting out the back and adding a weather strip. If you want something a little easier, Cymbalsky suggested grabbing a pre-made doorstop from New-Jersey based manufacturer Randall. "These kinds of wood-covered products are more suited for older homes because the insulation strips can be had in darker colors (black or brown) and the wood can be stained or painted to match the wood work in the house," he said.
Finkelstein shouted out Oregon-based Indow Windows, which makes customized insulated window inserts with patented compression tubing that help regulate your home's temperature without disrupting your windows. They have an easy sample kit available on Amazon to help you get your exact measurements and specifications right, and then are delivered right to your door.
We love this magnetic fireplace blanket that can easily be placed on your fireplace to keep cold air from coming in. It comes in a variety of sizes and reviewers say it has saved them money on their heating and electric bills.
We found this highly-rated dryer vent seal that lets hot air escape from the bottom and doesn't let outdoor air in. It has a 4.7-star overall rating with reviewers saying it's easy to install.
For covering AC units or vents, we found two highly rated options, both of which come in a variety of sizes to fit your specific appliance.
We love this highly-rated smart humidifier that comes with a handy remote. It has warm and cool mist features with reviewers saying it helps keep their space warm and cozy in the winter.
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