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, it isn’t too late. Use these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm during winter.
Your furnace has been unused all summer. To prepare it for another heating season, request a visit from a qualified technician to evaluate, clean and tune up the equipment. The most affordable way to keep your heating system in great shape over time is to enroll in a Maintenance+ membership.
Get a professional to evaluate and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace once per year. This service clears away ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can cause chimney fires. It also gives you peace of mind that the masonry, chimney liner, crown, and other fireplace components are in good condition.
As you get ready to run your furnace more often, look for and seal air leaks that enable cold outdoor air to get inside. The easiest way to discover leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick in areas that might be leaky, such as near windows and doors, recessed light fixtures, plumbing penetrations and electrical outlets. Then, seal the leaks you find with weatherstripping, caulk, foam gaskets and expanding spray foam.
Ceiling fans keep you cool over the summer, but they can also disperse warm air down to the living space in the winter. For the best results, set your fans on low and find the switch that lets them spin in reverse. This strategy is best used in stairwells and rooms with tall ceilings.
An additional way to winterize your home is to swap out delicate, summery window coverings for thick, insulating drapes. Make sure to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun continues warming your home for free. Then, close the curtains after dark for increased insulation against the cold night air.
As the temperature drops, exposed pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting. Add foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to minimize the risk. Electric heat tape under the insulation gives you an added layer of protection in especially cold climates.
Sealing up your house, baking more and heating with combustion appliances elevates 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 working. Then, put in CO detectors on every floor of your home, especially outside sleeping areas. Test your alarms monthly and swap out the batteries twice a year.
Do you still have an old analog thermostat? You might save on heating bills this winter by installing a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings optimize the temperature throughout the day, so you can set it and forget it. A Wi-Fi thermostat is a modern option where you can modify the settings remotely with an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance tips.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that appear along the eaves, preventing melted snow from falling off the roof. Left alone, ice dams can allow water to reach under the shingles and damage things in the attic. Follow these tips to prevent ice dams this winter:
Slips and falls are particularly common in icy winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe by sprinkling salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer on the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Be sure to read the directions for specific application tips and any potential precautions.
Many winterization tips relate primarily to your home heating, cooling,and plumbing systems. 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 your home for winter weather. For more info 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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