10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home
Winter has arrived. You can tell by the barren trees, early sunsets, and layer of frost in the morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, you still have time. Use these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm all winter.
1. Request Maintenance for Your Home’s Heating
Your furnace has been unused all summer. To prepare it for another heating season, schedule a visit from a qualified technician to evaluate, clean and tune up the equipment. The most affordable way to keep your heating system in good shape over time is to subscribe to a Maintenance+ membership.2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected
Call a professional to inspect and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace once a year. This service removes ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can result in chimney fires. It also gives you peace of mind that the masonry, chimney liner, crown, and other fireplace components are in good condition.3. Seal Air Leaks
As you start to run your furnace in cold weather, look for and seal air leaks that will allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The easiest way to find leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick near areas that may be leaky, like 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.4. Use Ceiling Fans in Reverse
Ceiling fans keep you cool in the summer, but they can also circulate warm air down to the living space during the winter. For better results, set your fans on low and run them in reverse. This strategy is ideal for stairwells and rooms with high ceilings.5. Install Insulating Drapes
Another way to winterize your home is to trade out light, summery window coverings for thicker, insulating drapes. Remember to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun can warm your home for free. Then, pull the curtains after dark for added insulation against the brisk night air.6. Insulate Your Pipes
As the temperature dips, exposed pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting. Install foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to keep this from happening. Electric heat tape beneath the insulation provides an added layer of protection in very frigid climates.7. Install Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Sealing up your house, baking more and heating with combustion appliances raises the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning in the winter. Exercise caution with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are functional. Then, put in CO detectors on every floor of your home, particularly outside sleeping areas. Test your alarms each month and replace the batteries twice a year.8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat
Do you still use an old analog thermostat? You could save on heating bills this winter by installing a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings fine-tune the temperature at different times of the day, so you can set it and forget it. A Wi-Fi thermostat is a high-tech option where you can modify the settings remotely by using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance advice.9. Prevent Ice Dams
Ice dams are ridges of ice that develop along the eaves, blocking melted snow from draining off the roof. Left unaddressed, ice dams can allow water to flow under the shingles and damage things in the attic. Use these tips to avoid ice dams this winter:-
- Clean the gutters so water can flow like it’s supposed to.
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- Ventilate the attic to prevent heat buildup that can melt snow from below.
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- Seal attic floor penetrations to stop warm air from rising through the ceiling.
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- Insulate the attic floor to further decrease heat transfer through the ceiling.
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- Seal and insulate ductwork up in the attic.
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- Ensure your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and the dryer vent lead outdoors, not into the attic.