Combine Cleaning and Weatherproofing

Weatherproofing your home can often be a huge task that seems to take up way more time than it really should. However, there is a really simple way that you can go about reducing that time, or at the very least maximizing the time spent. The best way that you can do this is to combine cleaning and weatherproofing so that you are doing two tasks at the same time. Surprisingly this is a very easy thing to do. All you really need to do is follow these simple guidelines.

• Look around for air leaks. If you have a home, then you have some kind door or window. With windows and doors comes weather stripping and the possibility of leaks. As you are cleaning the windows and vacuuming near your doors take a little time to check for any air leaks. If you find any, usually indicated by a draft, make note of it so that you can get it fixed later on. At the same time, as you go around doing your regular cleaning take the time to look at the vents that are scattered around the home for any necessary repairs as well.
• Inspect your insulation. At least once a year you will need to take a look at your insulation. Not the insulation that is found inside the walls, but any insulation that you may have in your basement or attic. This can be done while you are doing your cleaning, and is fairly simple to do as well. Simply make sure that the insulation isn't wet, damaged, or excessively compressed in any way. If your insulation is showing any of these signs, then you need to either replace the damaged sections yourself, or have a professional do it for you.
• Check the filters. When you were checking the vents around your home you may have noticed some dirt or grime near them. Often this is a sign of a filter that has stopped working. Take a little time to take a look at the filters on your furnace. If they are dirty or in less then stellar shape you will need to replace them. Preferably you have a filter that can simply be washed and reused, but if not replace it at your first opportunity.
• Add weatherproofing where needed. As you are doing your cleaning, you should have taken the time to inspect the weather stripping around your home, and made note of what needed to be replaced and what was ok as it was. Pick up a simple weatherproofing kit from your local department store and make any repairs as necessary. If you feel that you are unable to do this type of repair work, you can always hire a professional to do it for you. The only draw back to that is the cost that usually goes along with a professional.