10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter is finally here. You can tell by the bare trees, early sunsets, and layer of frost every morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, it isn’t too late. Run through these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm all winter.

1. Request Maintenance for Your Heating System

Your furnace has been unused all summer. To get it ready for another heating season, arrange for a visit from a qualified technician to evaluate, clean and service the equipment. The most cost-effective way to keep your heating system in good shape over time is to subscribe to a Maintenance+ membership.

2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected

Get a professional to inspect and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace annually. 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 suitable condition.

3. Seal Air Leaks

As you prepare to run your furnace more often, try to find and seal air leaks that enable cold outdoor air to get inside. The quickest way to find leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick near areas that might 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. Run Ceiling Fans in Reverse

Ceiling fans keep you cool in the summer, but they can also distribute warm air down to the living space over 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 vaulted ceilings.

5. Install Insulating Drapes

An additional way to winterize your home is to exchange thin, summery window coverings for thicker, insulating drapes. Remember to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun warms your home for free. Then, close the curtains after dark for increased insulation against the brisk night air.

6. Insulate Your Pipes

As the temperature falls, exposed pipes are in danger of 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 under the insulation creates 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 in the winter. Exercise caution with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are functional. Then, install CO detectors on every floor of your home, particularly close to sleeping areas. Test your alarms each month and change the batteries every six months.

8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Do you still use an old analog thermostat? You can save on heating bills this winter by upgrading to 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 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 form along the eaves, blocking melted snow from falling off the roof. Left alone, ice dams can allow water to reach under the shingles and damage structures in the attic. Use these tips to deter ice dams this winter:

  • Clean the gutters so water can flow like it should.
  • Ventilate the attic to prevent heat buildup that can melt snow from below.
  • Seal attic floor penetrations to stop warm air from rising through the ceiling.
  • Insulate the attic floor to further restrict heat transfer through the ceiling.
  • Seal and insulate ductwork up in 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 notably common in freezing winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe by applying salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer across the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Don’t forget to read the directions for specific application tips and recommended precautions.

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

Many winterization tips relate directly to your home heating, cooling, and plumbing equipment. If you need help winterizing your home, contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We offer affordable furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare the house for cold weather. For more details about our services or to arrange an estimate, please contact your local Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing office today.

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