Winter has arrived. You can tell by the bare trees, early evenings, and layer of frost in the morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, you still have time. Follow 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 inspect, 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.
Call a professional to inspect and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace once a year. This service clears away 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 more often, search for and seal air leaks that will allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The easiest way to find leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick near areas that could be leaky, such as near windows and doors, recessed light fixtures, plumbing penetrations and electrical outlets. Then, seal the leaks up with weatherstripping, caulk, foam gaskets and expanding spray foam.
Ceiling fans keep you cool in 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 most effective in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
An additional 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 warms your home for free. Then, close the curtains after dark for added insulation against the frigid 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 under the insulation creates an additional layer of protection in especially frigid climates.
Sealing up your house, baking more and heating with combustion appliances elevates the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning in 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 every month and change the batteries every six months.
Do you still have an old analog thermostat? You can save on heating bills this winter by upgrading to a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings optimize the temperature at different 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 advice.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that form along the eaves, preventing melted snow from draining off the roof. Left alone, ice dams can allow water to get under the shingles and damage structures in the attic. Follow these tips to prevent ice dams this winter:
Slips and falls are more common in icy winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe for pedestrians by sprinkling salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer across the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Remember to read the directions for proper application tips and recommended precautions.
Many winterization tips relate closely to your home heating, cooling,and plumbing systems. If you need help winterizing your home, call Comfortech Service Experts. We offer affordable furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare your home for cold weather. For more details about our services or to {request|schedule|arrange]] an estimate, please contact your local Comfortech Service Experts office today.
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