10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter is in full swing. You can tell by the leafless trees, early sunsets, and layer of frost in the morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, it isn’t too late. Follow these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm during winter.

1. Request Maintenance for Your Heating Equipment

Your furnace has been inactive all summer. To get it ready for another heating season, schedule a visit from a qualified technician to examine, clean and service the equipment. The most cost-effective way to keep your heating system in tip-top shape over time is to sign up for a Maintenance+ membership.

2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected

Hire a professional to inspect 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 provides 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 all winter, try to find and seal air leaks that allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The easiest way to discover leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick in areas that could be leaky, including 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.

4. Use Ceiling Fans in Reverse

Ceiling fans keep you cool over 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 tactic is best used in stairwells and rooms with tall ceilings.

5. Install Insulating Drapes

A different way to winterize your home is to exchange light, summery window coverings for thicker, insulating drapes. Make sure to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun continues warming your home for free. Then, shut the curtains after dark for additional insulation against the cold night air.

6. Insulate Your Pipes

As the temperature drops, exposed pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting. Put in foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to prevent this. Electric heat tape beneath the insulation gives you an extra layer of protection in particularly 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 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, especially close to sleeping areas. Test your alarms every month and swap out the batteries twice yearly.

8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

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 an innovative option where you can change the settings remotely with 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, stopping melted snow from falling 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 avoid ice dams this winter:

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

10. Keep Deicer Close By

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

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

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

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