Now that we have survived the unpredictable winter months, Spring is around the corner and ready to dish out its own surprises. Don’t let your home become easy prey to extreme Spring weather. Instead, follow these tips for weatherproofing your home for spring from the knowledgeable team at Action Air!

 Weatherproof Your Windows

 

• Install Weather Strips 

  Weather strips can seal air leaks throughout your home. You can use felt, foam, vinyl or metal as weather strips. Whichever material you choose, make sure it can hold up against friction, weather, and temperature changes.

 

• Add Some Cell Shades 

  Cell shades are practical and aesthetically pleasing. The cells are the visible side pockets on a honeycomb shade. These cells trap air in the pockets, preventing extreme temperature changes in your home. Therefore, the more cells there are on a shade, the more energy efficient it is. Furthermore, the larger the cells are, the better the insulation will be.

 

• Invest in Shutters 

  Since shutters are the thickest and tightest-fitting window coverings, they are effective insulators. They prevent the spread of air between the window covering and glass of the window.

 

• Apply High-Reflective Window Film

  You can apply film on your own or have a professional install it. High-reflective film can effectively decrease heat gain during the summer months, keeping your house cooler and your energy bills lower.

 

Weatherproof Your Doors

 

• Seal Gaps with Caulk 

  Check doors leading to the outside by putting a piece of white paper between the bottom of the door and threshold. Then, close the door and pull the paper out slowly. Check the amount of debris on the paper to determine the tightness of the seal. Once this has been determined, fill any gaps with caulk.

 

• Use a Backer Rod 

  For larger gaps, use a backer rod to fill the space. Measure and cut a piece of backer rod to fit the gap from side to side. Then, add a bead of caulk to one side of the cut piece. Next, push the rod into the space as far as it will go. Once the space is filled, caulk the upper and lower edge. Lastly, stick the decorative trim against the caulked area and secure it with some finishing nails.

 

• Upgrade Weather Stripping 

  If you already have weather strips around your exterior doors, check to make sure they do not need to be replaced. To replace old or damaged weather stripping, determine the style of stripping you need and install the new stripping in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

 

Secure Your Roof

 

• Check for and Repair Damage

  – Make sure your roof is prepared for spring showers. Examine it for cracks in the ridge, rusty areas on the valleys, and broken or dislodged shingles. If you discover any problems, you can either choose to make some DIY repairs or call a professional to fix your roof.

 

• Upgrade to a Cool Roof

  – Another way to weatherproof your roof is by upgrading to a cool roof. Cool roofs are either coated with a highly reflective type of paint or contain highly reflective tiles or shingles. Just as light-colored clothing can help keep you cool in hot weather conditions the material of a cool roof can do the same for your home.

 

Add an Awning to Your Patio

Awnings are good for your energy bill and curb appeal. An awning can shield your home from thermal heat and can save you as much as 23% on your cooling expenses when placed properly. We recommend opting for a retractable awning, so you can allow some sunlight into your home during winter months for some natural heat.

Insulate Your Attic or Crawlspace

Whether you use blankets or loose fill insulation, you can increase the energy efficiency of your home cooling system by insulating your attic or crawlspace. A well-insulated attic will not only keep your cool air from escaping but will also keep heat from escaping during winter months.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

 

• Install a Programmable Thermostat 

  A programmable thermostat is a great investment that will save you money in the long-term. With a programmable thermostat, you can customize a pre-set schedule that will automatically turn your AC on and off at specific times of the day. You can program six or more temperature settings a day that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the scheduled program.

 

• Switch to a Smart Thermostat 

  Smart thermostats are Wi-Fi and app-enabled systems that allow you to control your AC setting remotely. While you can still manually schedule AC or heat to turn on and off with this system, its adaptive sensors learn from and react to unexpected changes in your routine. Automatically cancelling “away mode” if the sensors notice you’ve come home unexpectedly, a smart thermostat adapts to your lifestyle to make you as comfortable as possible.

 

Upgrade Your Home’s Exterior Paint

In the extreme weather that often comes with spring and summer, your exterior paint is the first line of defense. To avoid cracking and peeling from UV rays or expanding and contracting from intense humidity, apply the right paint. We recommend Valspar Reserve Extreme Weather Paint + Primer with SeasonFlex Technology. This paint and primer will form a flexible bond with your home’s exterior surface for year-round protection. You could also apply another version of this Valspar paint with a SunStopper Technology primer that can refract light to neutralize harmful UV rays. If you live in a rain-heavy region, we can highly recommend the RainRelief Technology primer from Valspar to protect your home with a watertight bond.

Upgrade Your Outlets

For an easy DIY weatherproofing task, install a foam outlet gasket to fix any outlets that allow air to escape. These are inexpensive and easy to install.

 

Allow Action Air to Help!

The benefits of weatherproofing your home for spring are numerous. If you are looking for a professional touch to your home’s weatherproofing, allow the experts at Action Air to help! For help from one of our knowledgeable experts, call us today at 317-451-4371 or schedule an appointment by filling out a service request form on our website!