10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home
Winter has arrived. You can tell by the barren trees, early evenings, and layer of frost every morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, you still have time. Use these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm during winter.
1. Request Maintenance for Your Heating Equipment
Your furnace has been dormant all summer. To make preparations for another heating season, arrange for a visit from a qualified technician to evaluate, clean and service the equipment. The most cost-efficient way to keep your heating system in good shape over the years is to sign up for a Maintenance+ membership.2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected
Call a professional to evaluate and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace annually. This service takes care of ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can trigger 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 start to run your furnace more often, try to find and seal air leaks that allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The quickest way to notice leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick near 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 in the summer, but they can also distribute warm air down to the living space during the winter. For better results, set your fans on low and flip the switch to run them in reverse. This tactic is ideal for 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 can warm your home for free. Then, pull the curtains after dark for added insulation against the frigid night air.6. Insulate Your Pipes
As the temperature falls, exposed pipes are vulnerable to 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 added layer of protection in especially 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 over the winter. Be careful with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are functioning. Then, put in CO detectors on every floor of your home, primarily outside sleeping areas. Test your alarms every month and swap out the batteries every six months.8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat
Do you still own an old analog thermostat? You could save on heating bills this winter by installing 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 modify the settings remotely by using 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. Left alone, ice dams can allow water to flow under the shingles and damage structural elements in the attic. Follow these tips to prevent ice dams this winter:-
- Clean the gutters so water can drain like it should.
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- Ventilate the attic to stop heat buildup that can melt snow from beneath.
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- Seal attic floor penetrations to stop hot air from rising through the ceiling.
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- Insulate the attic floor to further reduce heat transfer through the ceiling.
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- Seal and insulate ductwork up in the attic.
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- Make sure your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and the dryer vent lead outside, not into the attic.
