Winter has arrived. You can tell by the leafless trees, early sunsets, and layer of frost in the morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, there’s still time. Run through these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm all winter.
Your furnace has been inactive all summer. To make preparations for another heating season, schedule a visit from a qualified technician to evaluate, clean and service the equipment. The most cost-efficient way to keep your heating system in great shape over time is to enroll in a Maintenance+ membership.
Hire a professional to examine and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace annually. This service clears away 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 excellent condition.
As you start to run your furnace in cold weather, try to find and seal air leaks that will allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The best way to find leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick all around areas that might be leaky, including near windows and doors, recessed light fixtures, plumbing penetrations and electrical outlets. Then, seal the leaks up with weatherstripping, caulk, foam gaskets and expanding spray foam.
Ceiling fans keep you cool in the summer, but they can also circulate 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 tactic is ideal for stairwells and rooms with high ceilings.
An additional way to winterize your home is to swap out thin, summery window coverings for thicker, insulating drapes. Make sure to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun warms your home for free. Then, close the curtains after dark for added insulation against the frigid night air.
As the temperature drops, exposed pipes are in danger of freezing and bursting. Install foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to minimize the risk. Electric heat tape under the insulation creates 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 during the winter. Be careful 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, especially outside sleeping areas. Test your alarms monthly and swap out the batteries every six months.
Do you still own an old analog thermostat? You could save on heating bills this winter by upgrading to a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings optimize the temperature at various times of the day, so you can set it and forget it. A Wi-Fi thermostat is a high-tech option with the capability to change the settings remotely by using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance advice.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that appear along the eaves, blocking melted snow from melting off the roof. When ignored, ice dams can allow water to reach under the shingles and damage structures in the attic. Follow these tips to deter ice dams this winter:
Slips and falls are particularly common in freezing winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe for pedestrians by sprinkling salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer across the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Be sure to read the directions for specific application tips and suggested precautions.
Many winterization tips relate closely to your home heating, cooling,and plumbing systems. If you need help winterizing your home, contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We offer excellent furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare you for winter weather. For more information 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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