Cold drafts can be uncomfortable, cost money, and affect our health. They can keep us from sleeping well and make our muscles sore and tight. From a Chinese medicine perspective, drafts are also a vehicle for external pathogens to enter the body, leading to colds, coughs, and a weakened immune system. And they can add to the depressing quality of this time of year, when we already tend to feel a little bleak and cheerless.
Below are a few simple ideas to cut draft exposure in your home, be it apartment, dorm room, or house!
Do poorly insulated windows make it chilly for you? Try bubble wrap. Cut bubble wrap to window-glass size, spritz with a little water, and stick it directly on the pane. An easy way to add some warmth and save on heat. Simply peel off and re-use anytime, whether it’s to insulate next winter or, in the meantime, wrap up your grandmother’s cut glass bowl. Talk about versatile! The window can still be opened and there is no taping necessary.
Also, beware of drafts that sneak under your doors. A “draft snake” is easy to make using a rolled-up towel the width of your door. Or, you can be a little more creative and construct one using fabric and stuffing (beans, rice, pillow fluff, sand — there are all sorts of options). It will block the chill and add some color, too.
It’s very important to ensure that these drafts are not causing false readings on your thermostat. A thermostat located next to a door or stairwell is sure to get cold blasts of air that kick on the heat. Adjust your thermostat accordingly, or find another location for the thermostat that will give a more accurate temperature reading.
A window AC unit can be another huge culprit for unwanted drafts (and arctic blasts). Take those units out in early fall or, at the very least, properly seal around them to prevent cold air from coming inside.
Winterizing a home and looking out for drafts can help conserve electricity, save money, and lead to a healthier, more comfortable winter.