If you are renting an apartment, and you live in a place with a cold climate, the winters could get really rough. Most apartments are not well-maintained, and most building owners could not really be bothered to winterproof the apartment. Sometimes the tenant will need to do most of the maintenance work. Here are seven tips for winter-proofing your apartment against winter.
- Insulate Your Apartment
When it comes to keeping out the cold, the best way to do this is to insulate the walls. Remember that the cold could seep through the cracks and gaps in the walls. This is especially true if your walls are thin and made of wood.
It is important to note that you will be opening the walls, and stuffing them with insulating materials. It is also important that you check with your landlord if it is possible to insulate the walls. Remember, the apartment is still the property of the building owner, and any changes you make will have to go through him or her first.
Once you do get permission to insulate the room, you should check with guyabouthome for tips on how to properly insulate your home.
- Use Thick Curtains
Aside from insulating your walls, it is a good idea to use thick curtains on your windows. The thick curtains will not only help cut off the cold, but they will also keep the warmth inside your apartment.
When you choose your curtains, it is best if you get ones that are made of wool, because they are a lot heavier, thicker, and help keep out the cold efficiently.
- Plug Up Any Gaps In Your Windows
One of the key areas that the cold could seep through, are your windows. Make it a practice to check the windows for cracks. It is also a good idea to check the bottom of the windows if there are any gaps that the cold winter air could get through.
If there are any gaps, you should make it a priority to plug them up as soon as possible. Luckily there are a lot of methods to do this. If the window gap is small, you could always attach pieces of rubber to the window sill.
- Make Sure Your Pipes And Valves Are Well-maintained.
Aside from your walls, it is important that you check your pipes and valves are well-maintained. Remember that pipes and valves are very vulnerable to the cold. If there are leaks, the cold could literally seep through and burst the pipes and valves in your home. This will not only mean any hot water, but it will also mean no water in general.
As a rule, it is important that you invest in top quality valves for your pipelines. If you want top quality api 6d ball valve and other valve variations, you should check with SIO. It is one of the best valve providers in the world, and could offer you a myriad of great valve options.
- Use Your Fireplace
Back in the old days, the fireplace was often considered the main source of heat for the household. While there have been innovations in keeping the home warm, this does not mean that fireplaces are obsolete. If you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace in your apartment, you should know how to use it properly.
First things first, it is important that you clean the fireplace. If it has been some time since you last used your fireplace lace, this means that your fireplace is most likely clogged up with soot or filth that has been accumulated through the years. If you have a long-handled broom and a ladder, you should go up the chimney, and clean it out. However, you should be as careful as possible. If you are going to clean your chimney, you should wear gloves and a face mask. This will stop you from inhaling any soot or dirt from the fireplace.
Once you clean up the fireplace it is a good idea to stock up on firewood, and keep the fire going. After you use your fireplace, it is important that you stop it from getting damp. Take the time to clean out the charred debris and sweep them out.
- Seal Gaps On The Floor
Aside from gaps in the wall, there is also the problem of gaps on the floor that you will have to contend with. This is especially important if your floor is made of wood, and if your apartment is old, you should make sure that there are no holes or loose boards to deal with.
If you want to seal the gaps on the floor, it is a good idea to set up insulating materials under the floorboards. It is also advisable that you nail down any loose floorboards. If you want to further seal the gaps, you could also install a thick carpet to seal off any drafts that might come from the floor.
- Improve Your Ceiling Insulation
It is very important that you improve your ceiling insulation as much as possible. Remember that faulty ceiling insulation could mean a very cold day for you. Take the time to check the roof for any gaps or damage, because it is through those areas that the cold wind could pass through. As a rule, you should check out the roof, and nail up any openings. It is also a good idea to check if there are animals living in your roof area, because they are usually the ones that damage the roof and walls.
Conclusion
If you are renting an apartment, the winters could get really rough. This is mostly because building owners don’t really make it a priority to winterproof the building. Don’t worry though, with these tips, you’ll be able to winterproof your apartment with little to no hassle.