Winter is just around the corner and it's time to start thinking about winter maintenance. Whether you begin by getting your heating system serviced or seal the cracks around your home, there are things you need to make sure get done. Let's take a closer look at how to winterize your home with these 7 tips to winterize your house.
Get Your Heating System Serviced
First things first. Before winter arrives, you want to make sure your heating system is in good working order. Call a professional to come and service the system. Also make sure to change the filters. Clogged filters can cause your unit to work harder and use more energy.
Check for Window and Door Air Leaks
You want to check all the doors and windows in your home for leaks. You can check doors easily by placing a dollar bill in the door. When closed, the dollar bill should be hard to pull out. If it comes out easily, you need to reseal the door. Windows are very easy to check as well. If you can feel cold air coming in around the windows, or warm air escaping from the outside, you need to reseal your windows.
Protect Your Pipes
Pipes in unheated areas of your home should be insulated to prevent them from freezing. This is easily done by purchasing pipe insulation from your local hardware store and taping it into place.
Clean the Gutters
Fall leaves are probably clogging your gutters. Not to mention all the acorns the squirrels have hidden for winter. If you don't clean your gutters, you risk damaging your roof. Water can get trapped in the gutters, causing water damage to the edges of the roof. You may have already done this step as part of your fall home maintenance checklist.
Switch Ceiling Fans to Run Clockwise
During cold weather, you want to make sure your ceiling fans are running in the clockwise direction. Warm airs rises to the ceiling. If your fans are running clockwise, they will push the warm air back down. This will greatly reduce the cost of your heating bill.
Insulate Windows
If you have older windows, you want to make absolutely sure to insulate them. You can find insulation kits at your local home improvement store. It can be a pricey investment each year. If possible, you want to replace older windows as soon as possible.
Seal Cracks
Last, but not least, you want to seal cracks in your siding and foundation. These cracks can allow heat, to escape, making your energy bill much higher.
It's not as hard to winterize your home as you might think. Many of these jobs are very easy to do yourself. Best of all, many of these jobs will help reduce the cost of your heating bill each month.
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