Winter is finally here. You can tell by the bare trees, early evenings, and layer of frost in the morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, you still have time. Follow these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm all winter.
Your furnace has been unused all summer. To prepare it for another heating season, arrange for a visit from a qualified technician to inspect, clean and service the equipment. The most affordable way to keep your heating system in good shape over the years is to sign up for a Maintenance+ membership.
Call a professional to inspect and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace once a year. This service clears away ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can trigger chimney fires. It also grants you peace of mind that the masonry, chimney liner, crown, and other fireplace components are in good condition.
As you prepare to run your furnace in cold weather, search for and seal air leaks that enable cold outdoor air to get inside. The quickest way to discover leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick near areas that may be leaky, including near windows and doors, recessed light fixtures, plumbing penetrations and electrical outlets. Then, seal the leaks you’ve found with weatherstripping, caulk, foam gaskets and expanding spray foam.
Ceiling fans keep you cool in the summer, but they can also distribute warm air down to the living space during the winter. For best results, set your fans on low and flip the switch to run them in reverse. This strategy is most effective in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
An additional way to winterize your home is to exchange delicate, summery window coverings for heavy, insulating drapes. Make sure to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun can warm your home for free. Then, pull the curtains after dark for increased insulation against the brisk night air.
As the temperature falls, exposed pipes are in danger of freezing and bursting. Add foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to prevent this. Electric heat tape underneath the insulation gives you an added layer of protection in particularly frigid climates.
Sealing up your house, baking more and heating with combustion appliances increases the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning over the winter. Use caution with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are functioning. Then, add CO detectors on every floor of your home, primarily outside sleeping areas. Test your alarms monthly and swap out the batteries twice yearly.
Do you still have an old analog thermostat? You might save on heating bills this winter by upgrading to a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings optimize the temperature at different times of the day, so you can set it and forget it. A Wi-Fi thermostat is an innovative option where you can modify the settings remotely using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance advice.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that develop along the eaves, stopping melted snow from melting off the roof. When ignored, ice dams can allow water to flow under the shingles and damage things in the attic. Use these tips to deter ice dams this winter:
Slips and falls are particularly common in cold winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe for pedestrians by applying salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer along the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Remember to read the directions for proper application tips and recommended precautions.
Many winterization tips relate closely to your home heating, cooling,and plumbing equipment. If you need help winterizing your home, reach out to Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We offer quality furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare the house for winter. For more details about our services or to {request|schedule|arrange]] an estimate, please contact your local Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing office today.
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