The Perfect Time to Winterize Your Home
Winter is definitely on its way since it's getting colder now. Soon, snow and low temperatures will be upon us and these conditions could be dangerous at times. Our best defense against these would be preparation. So what can you possibly do to make your home "winterized"? Here are several tips that could be useful for you to be safe and warm this winter:
Ensure that you check for leaks. An easy way to find out where heat is leaking out, and cold is seeping in, is to walk around inside your house on a windy day, with a lit incense stick. Hold it near the usual €leaky€ areas, such as window and door frames, and electrical outlets. If you find some leaks, you should install weather stripping or maybe caulking so you could seal the gaps. Install foam insulators behind light switches or electrical outlets when the leak is there.
Although this is obvious to many people, you should not forget to check your windows. You should remember that this would provide the path that could lead to the greatest loss of heat. When your windows are a bit older, you could install storm windows over single-pane glass or maybe heavy plastic on the inside. That would help in preventing the heat from escaping. You can also buy a set of insulated drapes.
Always check your furnace as well. You have to be certain that it works well. This is also a good time to hire a professional so it would be cleaned and tuned. During the winter, you should frequently change the filter since dirty ones could reduce the air flow and cause fires. Changing your old furnace to a new energy-efficient one could be a great idea.
You shouldn't forget about the pipes too. On winter months, the pipes near exterior walls or on crawl spaces would have the biggest risk of getting frozen. You could protect these pipes from major damages by wrapping them with insulation.
Likewise, check on your ducts. Homes with central heating can lose heated air before it reaches the vents if the ductwork is not properly connected or insulated, especially if it has to pass through any unheated spaces. These ducts should also be cleaned every few years to get rid of dust as well as hair.
Inspect your fireplace as well. Make sure the cap/screen on the top of the chimney is in good repair. If you have no screen, be sure to install one so you could keep birds from building nearby nests that could cause fire hazards. The creosote as well as the soot could be removed by cleaning it. Make sure the damper opens and closes properly.
Finally, inspect your roof, gutter and downspouts. To ensure that the water wouldn't creep under the shingles,you should inspect the flashing. You should clean them as well so that there would be no leaf buildup and the downspouts would be clear. Consider installing leaf guards or adding extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.
Ensure that you check for leaks. An easy way to find out where heat is leaking out, and cold is seeping in, is to walk around inside your house on a windy day, with a lit incense stick. Hold it near the usual €leaky€ areas, such as window and door frames, and electrical outlets. If you find some leaks, you should install weather stripping or maybe caulking so you could seal the gaps. Install foam insulators behind light switches or electrical outlets when the leak is there.
Although this is obvious to many people, you should not forget to check your windows. You should remember that this would provide the path that could lead to the greatest loss of heat. When your windows are a bit older, you could install storm windows over single-pane glass or maybe heavy plastic on the inside. That would help in preventing the heat from escaping. You can also buy a set of insulated drapes.
Always check your furnace as well. You have to be certain that it works well. This is also a good time to hire a professional so it would be cleaned and tuned. During the winter, you should frequently change the filter since dirty ones could reduce the air flow and cause fires. Changing your old furnace to a new energy-efficient one could be a great idea.
You shouldn't forget about the pipes too. On winter months, the pipes near exterior walls or on crawl spaces would have the biggest risk of getting frozen. You could protect these pipes from major damages by wrapping them with insulation.
Likewise, check on your ducts. Homes with central heating can lose heated air before it reaches the vents if the ductwork is not properly connected or insulated, especially if it has to pass through any unheated spaces. These ducts should also be cleaned every few years to get rid of dust as well as hair.
Inspect your fireplace as well. Make sure the cap/screen on the top of the chimney is in good repair. If you have no screen, be sure to install one so you could keep birds from building nearby nests that could cause fire hazards. The creosote as well as the soot could be removed by cleaning it. Make sure the damper opens and closes properly.
Finally, inspect your roof, gutter and downspouts. To ensure that the water wouldn't creep under the shingles,you should inspect the flashing. You should clean them as well so that there would be no leaf buildup and the downspouts would be clear. Consider installing leaf guards or adding extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.