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10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter has arrived. You can tell by the leafless trees, early sunsets, and layer of frost every morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, there’s still time. Follow these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm all winter.

1. Plan for Maintenance for Your Heating Equipment

Your furnace has been unused all summer. To prepare it for another heating season, arrange for a visit from a qualified technician to evaluate, clean and tune up the equipment. The most affordable way to keep your heating system in great shape over time is to sign up for a Maintenance+ membership.

2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected

Call 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 trigger chimney fires. It also provides you peace of mind that the masonry, chimney liner, crown, and other fireplace components are in good condition.

3. Seal Air Leaks

As you prepare to run your furnace all winter, search for and seal air leaks that allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The best way to notice leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick all around areas that might be leaky, such as near windows and doors, recessed light fixtures, plumbing penetrations and electrical outlets. Then, seal the leaks you’ve found 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 circulate warm air down to the living space over the winter. For the best results, set your fans on low and flip the switch to run them in reverse. This method is most effective in stairwells and rooms with tall ceilings.

5. Install Insulating Drapes

Another way to winterize your home is to exchange thin, 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 additional insulation against the brisk night air.

6. Insulate Your Pipes

As the temperature drops, 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 especially 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 in the winter. Use caution with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are working. Then, put in CO detectors on every floor of your home, primarily outside sleeping areas. Test your alarms each month and change the batteries twice a year.

8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Do you still use an old analog thermostat? You might save on heating bills this winter by getting a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings fine-tune the temperature at various times of the day, so you can set it and forget it. A Wi-Fi thermostat is an innovative option with the capability to modify the settings remotely using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance advice.

9. Prevent Ice Dams

Ice dams are ridges of ice that develop along the eaves, stopping melted snow from melting off the roof. When ignored, ice dams can allow water to reach under the shingles and damage things in the attic. Try these tips to deter ice dams this winter:

  • Clean the gutters so water can flow like it should.
  • Ventilate the attic to stop heat buildup that can melt snow from below.
  • Seal attic floor penetrations to stop warm air from rising through the ceiling.
  • Insulate the attic floor to further reduce heat transfer through the ceiling.
  • Seal and insulate ductwork running through the attic.
  • Confirm your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and the dryer vent lead outdoors, not into the attic.

10. Keep Deicer on Hand

Slips and falls are more common in freezing winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe by applying salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer across the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Be sure to read the directions for correct application tips and suggested precautions.

Winterizing Your Home with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

Many winterization tips relate directly to your home heating, cooling, and plumbing utilities. If you need help winterizing your home, contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We offer excellent furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare you for winter. For more details about our services or to arrange an estimate, please contact your local Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing office today.

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