10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter has arrived. You can tell by the bare trees, early evenings, and layer of frost every 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 this winter.

1. Plan for Maintenance for Your Heating Equipment

Your furnace has been unused all summer. To make preparations 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 subscribe to a Maintenance+ membership.

2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected

Get a professional to evaluate and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace annually. This service clears away ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can trigger chimney fires. It also gives you peace of mind that the masonry, chimney liner, crown, and other fireplace components are in suitable condition.

3. Seal Air Leaks

As you start to run your furnace all winter, look for and seal air leaks that allow 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, such as 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. Keep Ceiling Fans in Reverse

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 run them in reverse. This strategy is ideal for stairwells and rooms with high ceilings.

5. Install Insulating Drapes

A different way to winterize your home is to exchange light, summery window coverings for thick, insulating drapes. Be sure to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun can warm your home for free. Then, close the curtains after dark for increased insulation against the frigid night air.

6. Insulate Your Pipes

As the temperature falls, exposed pipes are vulnerable to freezing and bursting. Put in foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to keep this from happening. Electric heat tape beneath the insulation gives you an added layer of protection in particularly cold climates.

7. Install Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

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, add CO detectors on every floor of your home, particularly close to sleeping areas. Test your alarms each month and replace the batteries every six months.

8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Do you still have an old analog thermostat? You could save on heating bills this winter by installing a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings fine-tune the temperature throughout the day, so you can set it and forget it. A Wi-Fi thermostat is a modern option that lets you change the settings remotely using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance tips.

9. Prevent Ice Dams

Ice dams are ridges of ice that form along the eaves, blocking melted snow from draining off the roof. When ignored, ice dams can allow water to flow under the shingles and damage structures in the attic. Follow these tips to avoid ice dams this winter:

  • Clean the gutters so water can clear away like it should.
  • Ventilate the attic to prevent heat buildup that can melt snow from beneath.
  • Seal attic floor penetrations to stop hot air from rising through the ceiling.
  • Insulate the attic floor to further restrict heat transfer through the ceiling.
  • Seal and insulate ductwork running through the attic.
  • Ensure your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and the dryer vent lead outside the house, not into the attic.

10. Keep Deicer Handy

Slips and falls are more common in cold winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe by scattering salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer on the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Remember to read the directions for proper application tips and any potential precautions.

Winterizing Your Home with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

Many winterization tips relate primarily to your home heating, cooling, and plumbing systems. If you need help winterizing your home, call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We offer affordable furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing support, and other services to prepare you for winter. For more info about our services or to request an estimate, please contact your local Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing office today.

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