Winter is in full swing. You can tell by the bare trees, early sunsets, and layer of frost in the morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, it isn’t too late. Use these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm this winter.
Your furnace has been dormant all summer. To get it ready for another heating season, schedule a visit from a qualified technician to examine, clean and tune up the equipment. The most affordable way to keep your heating system in tip-top shape over the years is to sign up for a Maintenance+ membership.
Hire a professional to examine and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace once a year. This service removes 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 good condition.
As you prepare to run your furnace in cold weather, search for and seal air leaks that allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The easiest way to find leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick all around areas that might be leaky, like 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.
Ceiling fans keep you cool over the summer, but they can also disperse warm air down to the living space during the winter. For better results, set your fans on low and find the switch that lets them spin in reverse. This tactic is ideal for stairwells and rooms with high ceilings.
Another way to winterize your home is to trade out 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 additional insulation against the cold night air.
As the temperature dips, exposed pipes are vulnerable to freezing and bursting. Install foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to prevent this. Electric heat tape underneath the insulation creates an extra layer of protection in very frigid climates.
Sealing up your house, baking more and heating with combustion appliances raises the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning over the winter. Be careful with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are working. Then, install CO detectors on every floor of your home, especially outside sleeping areas. Test your alarms monthly and change the batteries twice yearly.
Do you still have an old analog thermostat? You might 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 a high-tech option that lets you change the settings remotely using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance tips.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that develop along the eaves, preventing melted snow from draining 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:
Slips and falls are more common in icy winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe to walk on by applying 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 recommended precautions.
Many winterization tips relate directly to your home heating, cooling,and plumbing systems. If you need help winterizing your home, contact Knochelmann Service Experts. We offer quality furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare the house for cold weather. For more information about our services or to {request|schedule|arrange]] an estimate, please contact your local Knochelmann Service Experts office today.
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