Last winter was brutal, and honestly, I was dreading the heating bills this year. My old place is kinda drafty, you know, built in the 60s or something, and insulation wasn't exactly a priority back then. Anyway, I spent some time this fall researching and trying out a few DIY solutions to keep the heat in without spending a fortune.
First thing I did was seal up all the windows with those plastic shrink-wrap kits. I was skeptical at first—thought they'd look tacky—but honestly, they're barely noticeable once you get them tight enough. And wow, what a difference. No more drafts blowing through the living room when I'm trying to watch TV.
Then I tackled the attic. Turns out there was barely any insulation up there at all, just some sad-looking fiberglass batts that had seen better days. So I went ahead and added a thick layer of blown-in cellulose insulation. Messy job, but totally worth it. The upstairs bedrooms are actually comfortable now, even on those super chilly nights.
Also grabbed some weather stripping for the doors and used foam gaskets behind all my outlets on exterior walls (didn't even realize cold air could sneak in through there). These little things really add up.
Anyway, got my heating bill yesterday and it's literally HALF what it was this time last year. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself right now, not gonna lie.
Curious if anyone else has had similar success stories or maybe other tricks you've tried? Always looking for more ways to keep cozy without emptying my wallet...
I live in a historic home too—built in the early 1900s—and man, insulation was definitely not on their radar back then. I did the plastic shrink-wrap thing last year, and you're right, it makes a huge difference. But one thing I noticed was that my basement was still freezing cold, and it seemed to be pulling heat from the rest of the house. Have you checked your basement rim joists? I ended up sealing mine with spray foam insulation, and it was like night and day. Also, have you thought about thermal curtains? I was skeptical at first, but they actually help quite a bit, especially on those big old windows that plastic alone can't fully fix.
Curious though, did you notice any moisture issues after adding the cellulose insulation in your attic? I've been considering it myself, but I've heard mixed things about ventilation and moisture buildup...
I haven't personally noticed moisture issues after adding cellulose, but I did put in some extra soffit vents beforehand just to be safe. Older homes can be tricky with ventilation—mine definitely needed a bit more airflow up there. Also, totally agree about thermal curtains; they're a lifesaver on drafty nights. Did sealing your rim joists noticeably cut down on drafts upstairs too, or mainly just help with the basement chill?
- Rim joist sealing mostly tackled basement chill for me, but I did notice upstairs felt a bit less drafty too—especially near the floors.
- Honestly though, thermal curtains were the real MVP in my place. Before them, my living room felt like an igloo every winter... now it's actually cozy enough to binge-watch without three blankets.
- Might have to look into those soffit vents you mentioned; ventilation's always been a bit sketchy here. Older homes keep life interesting, right?
