Rental Report: Five Tips to Keep Your Place Warm This Winter

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Editor’s Note: This biweekly sponsored column is written by Rick Gersten, founder and CEO of Urban Igloo, a rental real estate firm that matches up renters with their ideal apartments, condos or houses. Please submit any questions in the comments section or via email.

The weather is cooling off, and it won’t be long before winter brings wind, snow and cold temperatures to our area. Now is the time to get your rental ready so your place is a warm, cozy retreat after a long day. We have a few tips to help you keep the chilly winter air out of your place, and stay warm this winter.

Curtains – One of the easiest, most inexpensive fixes for drafty windows is to buy curtains. Keep your curtains open during the day to let in the light and help heat the rooms in your home. At night, shut the drapes to keep out the bitter cold air. As an extra bonus, curtains can add some style to your place. Just be sure to fill in the holes from the curtain rods before you move out to keep from being charged for damage.

Foam Sealant – Another simple fix for a nasty draft is to use some foam sealant around the windows. A quick trip to the home improvement store can save up to 20 percent on your energy costs this winter. The foam sealant is not the most attractive solution, but it gets the job done. If you choose to use a clear caulk instead, be sure it is removable, so you can easily open the windows in the spring.

Weather Stripping – Sealing the area around any outside doors is one of the efficient ways to insulate, as doors tend to let in the most outside air. Install a door sweep at the bottom and weather stripping around the doors to seal out cold air. You can also use temporary weather stripping around your windows for another window sealant option.

Window Film – Although a pricier solution, window film not only retains up to 55 percent of your home’s heat in the winter, but it also helps reflect the light in the summer to keep your place cool.

Space Heaters – For small spaces, space heaters can help you save on energy costs while heating up a room to a nice, toasty temperature. Space heaters allow you to keep your thermostat down at 68, while using a little extra energy to heat up a small room while you are home. If you have pets or kids, be sure to buy heaters that are cool to the touch, and have an automatic shutoff if the heater is tipped over. Don’t forget to unplug it when you leave your home!

The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a colder than usual winter for the Metro D.C. area. Use these tips to stay warm, and help you save a few dollars on your heating costs this winter.

Have a rental-related question you’d like Rental Report to answer? Email it to info@urbanigloo.com.

The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARLnow.com.

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