Winter is Around the Corner – Here’s How to Get Your Home Ready for Winter
Throughout much of the United States homeowners use the Autumn months to prepare their homes for the approaching cold of winter. In an effort to stay warm and comfortable during frigid temperatures, as well as keep heating costs under control, we take number of steps to winterize our home.
Homeowners can take steps each Fall to winterize their home’s, both inside and out. To help you prepare your home for winter listed below are a few tips to follow when panning to winterize your home. By performing these tasks, you can save yourself money and headaches.
Checklist to Winterize Your Home:
1. Weather stripping – Older doors and windows tend to leak air around the frames letting warm air out and cold air in. For an inexpensive yet effective way to stop air drafts simply apply a length of adhesive weather stripping to gaps around door and window frames.
2. Lock your windows – New windows have a tight fit to prevent drafts. For an extra tight fit simply flip the latches to the locked position. You’ll be surprised at how much tighter a seal you’ll get around your locked windows.
3. Turn off water supply to outdoor spigots – Most homes feature an interior shut-off valve that halts water supply to spigots located on the exterior of your home. Be sure to turn those off and bleed any remaining water from the line to prevent lines from freezing.
4. Get your furnace checked – An annual furnace servicing will reduce the likelihood of a malfunction during winter. Schedule an appointment with a qualified technician before winter sets in and be sure to change your furnace filter for added comfort.
5. Tree trimming – Have dead limbs pruned from your trees before they become heavy with snow and ice. Falling limbs can damage your home and put family members at risk.
6. Get your chimney checked – A flue cleaning will eliminate harmful build up in your chimney, and if your home features a working wood-burning fireplace a thorough chimney cleaning will ensure efficient flow and prevent against accidental fires.
7. Clear your gutters of all debris – Clean gutters and downspouts will help prevent ice buildup along the edge of your roof line. Extensive ice buildup during winter months can lead to roof damage.
8. Radon and CO checks – Since you want your home sealed up to prevent cold air from coming in this means impure air inside your home will not leak out. Have your home checked for excess Radon gas buildup, and be sure your Carbon Monoxide detector is working properly.
9. Add insulation to your attic – A little extra attic insulation can go a long way toward increasing the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. You might even be eligible for a tax credit so check with a tax professional to see if your work qualifies.
10. Reverse your ceiling fans – Flip the switch on the base of your ceiling fan to reverse the direction of the fan blades. Rather than blowing cool air down, the fan will help circulate warm air around the room and help making home heating more efficient.
These simple, yet effective tips to winterize your home will help ensure you save on energy costs while also protecting your home from winter elements.
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