10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home
Winter is in full swing. You can tell by the leafless trees, early evenings, and layer of frost each 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. Schedule Maintenance for Your Home’s Heating
Your furnace has been inactive all summer. To get it ready for another heating season, request a visit from a qualified technician to evaluate, clean and tune up the equipment. The most affordable way to keep your heating system in tip-top shape through the years is to subscribe to a Maintenance+ membership.2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected
Call a professional to examine and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace once per year. This service takes care of ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can result in chimney fires. It also gives you peace of mind that the masonry, chimney liner, crown, and other fireplace components are in good condition.3. Seal Air Leaks
As you start to run your furnace in cold weather, search for and seal air leaks that will allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The quickest way to find leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick in 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.4. Run Ceiling Fans in Reverse
Ceiling fans keep you cool over the summer, but they can also circulate warm air down to the living space during the winter. For best results, set your fans on low and run them in reverse. This tactic is ideal for stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.5. Install Insulating Drapes
An additional way to winterize your home is to exchange delicate, summery window coverings for heavy, insulating drapes. Make sure to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun continues warming your home for free. Then, pull the curtains after dark for added insulation against the cold night air.6. Insulate Your Pipes
As the temperature dips, exposed pipes are in danger of freezing and bursting. Install foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to minimize the risk. Electric heat tape underneath the insulation provides an additional layer of protection in particularly cold climates.7. Install Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Sealing up your house, baking more and heating with combustion appliances increases the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning over the winter. Use caution with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are functioning. Then, install CO detectors on every floor of your home, especially close to sleeping areas. Test your alarms monthly and change the batteries twice a year.8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat
Do you still use an old analog thermostat? You could save on heating bills this winter by installing a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings fine-tune the temperature throughout the day, so you can set it and forget it. A Wi-Fi thermostat is an innovative option where you can change the settings remotely by using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance recommendations.9. Prevent Ice Dams
Ice dams are ridges of ice that appear along the eaves, preventing melted snow from falling off the roof. Left unaddressed, ice dams can allow water to reach under the shingles and damage structures in the attic. Try these tips to prevent ice dams this winter:-
- Clean the gutters so water can flow properly.
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- Ventilate the attic to stop heat buildup that can melt snow from below.
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- Seal attic floor penetrations to stop warm 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 inside the attic.
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- Ensure your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and the dryer vent lead outside the house, not into the attic.
