Fall is officially here, which means that winter is lurking
round the corner, ready with its assault. Snow and ice can have a damaging
effect on your home’s interior and exterior and lead to expensive repairs.
Improper insulation can inflict havoc on your home’s heating system and
increase your heating bills. But worry not! There are numerous ways you can
prepare your home for the cold, harsh months, some of which are listed below.
Tips to Prepare your
Home for the Winter
Insulate the doors and windows
If your windows
are old, they may need additional caulking to prevent air from sneaking its way
in. The same goes for entry doors and sliding doors. Check the door frames and
window openings to make sure they’re impervious to air leaks. If you find the
slightest gap, use silicone caulk to seal up the crevices. You can also add
weather-stripping around doors to prevent air from entering through the top and
bottom.
Add new/storm windows
If the windows are very old, consider installing new vinyl replacement windows. Installing storm
windows is also a good way to insulate a house. It may cost you initially, but
vinyl is energy-efficient and an excellent insulator, and you’ll realize you
have made a sound investment when you notice a marked decrease in your heating
and cooling bills over time. Choose windows that bear the Energy Star label,
such as the ones offered by Champion
Window, to help reduce energy bills and improve the comfort of your home.
Tune up the heating system
Call an HVAC professional and get your heating system
inspected. Over time, filters can become clogged with dust, so change the
filters to increase the energy efficiency of your house. Invest in a
programmable thermostat that can be set at the desired temperature when you’re
indoors and cools off when no one is home.
Insulate the water pipes
Buy rolls of foam insulation easily available at hardware
stores and wrap them around plumbing pipes to prevent them from freezing and
bursting in the dead of winter!
Improve attic insulation
An attic that’s not well insulated can allow heat to escape
through the roof and send your energy bills soaring high. Add insulation to
attics and crawlspaces to improve the energy efficiency of the entire house.
Drain the lawn irrigation system
Disconnect and drain all your garden hoses and lawn faucets.
If you leave the water undrained, it can turn to ice and cause the pipes to
crack open and burst.
Inspect the roof
The weeks before winter is the right time to inspect the
roof and check for missing or worn-out shingles, leaks, and the condition of
the flashing. Replace lost or broken shingles and fix any leaks that can become
serious if left unattended. Get a rake and clean the roof of fallen leaves and
dead branches. Trim any branches hanging over the roof so they don’t pose a
threat by acting as a conveyance for squirrels and other pesky critters who can
spoil the roof.
Reverse the Ceiling Fans
Reversing the direction of the ceiling fans once you turn on
the heat is a great way to conserve energy. It pushes the warm air down and
also lets you set the thermostat a degree or two lower.
Clean the chimneys
Chimneys can accumulate dirt and debris over time and cause
fires due to poor ventilation. Now is the time to sweep and clean the chimneys
and prevent the occurrence of any dangerous situation.
It may look like a mountain of work, but it’s not much once
you get into the thick of it. So keep your property and family safe and secure
in the bitter cold and avoid racking up costly utility
bills by doing annual and maintenance and energy-saving tasks so you can enjoy
winter without worrying about a thing!
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