Weatherize Your Home for Winter  

Weatherizing can help you save energy, save money, and improve your home’s comfort in every season, but its benefits are perhaps most noticeable in winter. Weatherproofing aids in everything from improving indoor air quality and creating effortless energy savings to lowering your carbon footprint and adding value to your home. 

This whole-home, systemic approach addresses every area of your home with air sealing to minimize leaks and infiltration of exterior air. It also ensures adequate home insulation to keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. In turn, it can reduce your energy use and save you money while helping you live more comfortably.  

Let’s explore why weatherization is so vital for every home, along with tips for low- or no-cost home insulation and other upgrades.  

Why You Need to Weatherproof Your Home 

Weatherization is critical for every home, but it’s particularly important if you live in an older home. New construction is built according to codes and regulations that are more stringent than they were in the past. Older homes often lack the weatherproofing necessary to stand up to the modern climate. In fact, experts estimate that approximately 90% of homes in the United States lack adequate insulation, according to Builder Magazine.  

Why is it so important to weatherize your home for winter? 

Improve Home Comfort 

After weatherproofing, you will experience a cozier, more comfortable indoor environment in winter. Adequate air sealing and insulation helps stop drafts and heat loss to retain more interior heat. In turn, it also reduces the stress on your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.  

Longer Lasting HVAC Equipment 

By lowering stress on your HVAC system with a more efficient home, you can add years to its lifespan. You may also enjoy fewer necessary repairs, simply by investing in weatherproofing for your home.  

Health Benefits 

Weatherproofing can help improve the quality of indoor air and even support better sleep. A recent study shows that after weatherizing their homes, participants experienced a 44% decrease in sleep interruptions. Additionally, it can help reduce cold- and heat-related illnesses, stress, and discomfort. 

Reduce Energy Use and Costs 

Low- and moderate-income households shoulder a disproportionate burden for energy costs. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that every dollar invested into weatherization produces energy benefits of $1.72. That’s a substantial return on investment. On average, weatherproofing can save you 15% on heating and cooling costs and 11% on your home’s total energy costs.  

Lower Greenhouse Emissions 

Your energy bills aren’t the only consideration when it comes to evaluating how your home uses energy. On average, the energy used by residential properties in the U.S. makes up approximately 20% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. By weatherproofing, you can effectively reduce your carbon footprint to help reduce emissions and support the environment.  

Benefits of Heating Upgrades 

The Department of Energy (DOE) considers heating upgrades as part of the mechanical measures in weatherization. Just cleaning, tuning up, and getting regular heating services to maintain heating equipment can make a significant difference. Additionally, installing insulation in ductwork, sealing leaky ducts, and insulating water heating systems can improve your home’s energy use. However, if your equipment is outdated, upgrading to a newer, more efficient HVAC system can produce dramatic energy savings, while lowering utility costs and im0000proving home comfort.  

Save Money 

Approximately 42% of your home’s energy costs come from heating and cooling, according to Energy Star. Upgrading your equipment to efficient systems like heat pumps can produce energy savings of 30% to 60%. That means you could be saving hundreds of dollars every year on your energy bills. 

Gain Better Temperature Control 

Heating upgrades can help eliminate inconsistent temperatures, with zoned heating options that allow you precision for various spaces. For example, you could keep your family room warmer and your bedroom cooler for sleeping. Additionally, programmable thermostats help you set your temperature preferences throughout the day. 

Improved Humidity Control 

Some older heating systems can create very dry air during winter. New options offer optimal humidity controls year-round, with sensors that can remove more humidity in summer and maintain comfortable moisture levels in winter. In turn, controlling the humidity in your home can improve air quality and reduce potential pest problems.  

Free Service Visits 

When you upgrade your equipment with Standard, you’re partnering with a provider who wants to help you save money while living your most comfortable life. Case in point: We offer free furnace and air conditioner inspections and free service calls for any quick fixes that don’t require parts. 

Insulation Methods 

Another essential part of weatherizing your home is assessing its insulation. By adding insulation where it’s lacking and upgrading it as needed, your home’s temperatures will become more stable. You’ll enjoy fewer drafts and lower energy bills year-round. Insulation methods and materials are tailored to your home’s unique needs.  

Whether you opt for blown-in or spray insulation will depend on the area you’re adding insulation to. Working with Standard’s certified, highly trained team ensures that the materials and installation method will be perfectly tailored to your home. In this way, we are able to help homeowners not only weatherize, but maximize their energy cost savings.  

Get Free Upgrades 

When you weatherize your home for winter, you may be eligible for grants and rebates to help offset the cost of the investment. The Inflation Reduction Act opened the door to tax credits that many homeowners can take advantage of today. Standard’s free home insulation offering is in partnership with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and New York State (NYS) programs that provide low-cost or free upgrades to qualifying homeowners.  

It all starts with free home energy audits. Our NATE-certified technicians will visually inspect your property and perform specialized testing to assess your home’s energy use. This allows us to pinpoint the areas in need of upgrades. 

Contact Standard to Learn More 

We can arrange a free consultation. We’ll help you fill out the paperwork to apply for programs like EmPower New York, which may help you get free weatherization upgrades. Standard is here for you every step of the way. Our goal is to help save you money on your energy bills, reduce your energy use, and improve the comfort of your home. Schedule a free home consultation today to get started.