Staying Warm in Your New Home | Journey Home Lending

It’s your first winter in your new home—the first chance to experience snuggling up under blankets, playing in the snow and cooking all the soups your family can handle in your new kitchen.

The first time you experience winter in a new home also means getting to know exactly how to keep it warm without breaking the bank. Every home is different, and there will be some trial and error as you figure out what works best in your new space. Fortunately, there are some hacks you can try to help.

Get to Know Your Space

Even if you have been in your home for several months, winter will bring completely new experiences and new ways to get to know your space better. Suddenly, that bright, open living space might feel very drafty and hard to keep warm—or that beautiful bay window might not be as well-sealed as you thought.

The more you can get to know your space, the easier it will be to make some simple upgrades that will have a lasting effect on how cozy your home stays for many winters to come. Check your windows for drafts or condensation buildup, and add weather stripping or caulking as needed. Head up to the attic on a cold windy day, and check for any places that wind might be sneaking in so you can add insulation.

Go take a look at your ductwork. Some systems have dampers that will need to be switched in the summer and the winter. Look for a lever that will open or close in order to allow for maximum airflow.

While manually changing the temperature in the summer might not have felt like a big deal, it may not work as well when the weather turns cold. It can be too easy to consistently bump the heat up on cold days without really realizing how often you are visiting the thermostat. Consider switching it out for a programmable one. You may have to try a few different settings to figure out what is most comfortable the first winter, but it can still save you a good deal on your heating bill.

Update Your Layout

One of the more difficult things about a new home is figuring out where everything is going to go. You might have spent days arranging and rearranging furniture until rooms began to feel comfortable. Even if you love the way things are set up now, you might find as winter sets in that the layout of your home is actually making it harder to get things warmed up.

Make sure vents and radiators are not blocked. If you have furniture in front of a vent, make sure there is plenty of space for air to flow all around it. Add some rugs to your floor. Even on a carpeted floor, adding a layer can go a long way in keeping things warm.

Seasonal changes are the perfect time to change your air filter and make sure your chimney is clean. All of these simple changes can make a big difference on keeping your home cozy and avoiding a huge heating bill. Enjoy every minute of getting to know exactly what your new house is going to be like this winter, and fall in love even more with your investment.

Ready to find a home to be cozy in all winter? Contact us to get started on your home-buying journey.