Winter is definitely on its way since it's getting colder now. The snow and the cold temperature will be upon us soon and these conditions could prove to be risky and dangerous. Readiness is always our best defense against nature's elements. What can you possibly do to "winterize" your home? Here are several tips that could be useful for you to be safe and warm this winter:
Make sure that there won't be any leaks. An easy way to find out where heat is leaking out, and cold is seeping in, is to walk around inside your house on a windy day, with a lit incense stick. You must hold it near the usual "leaky" places such as door and window frames as well as electrical outlets. When you find the leaks, you may want to install weather stripping, or caulking to seal the gaps. You can install foam insulators behind electrical outlets as well as light switches.
This may seem obvious to most people, but be sure to check your windows. The window would be the one that would provide the path for a great loss of heat in your home. If your windows are older you can install storm windows over single-pane glass or heavy plastic on the inside. The heat wouldn't escape with these. Buying a set of insulated drapes could also help you out.
To stay safe and comfortable, you should check on the furnace often. Ensure that it works well by turning it on. This is also a good time to hire a professional so it would be cleaned and tuned. The filters should be changed often during the winter since dirty filters would reduce the air flow and cause fires. Changing your old furnace to a new energy-efficient one could be a great idea.
You shouldn't forget about the pipes too. Pipes near exterior walls or those in crawl spaces have the highest risk of freezing during those cold winter months. Wrapping those pipes with insulation provides added protection and can prevent major damage should the pipes freeze and burst throughout the winter months.
Also, it's important to check on your ducts. Those homes that have central heating could lose heated air even before this reach the vents since the ductwork isn't working properly. Your ducts could also accumulate dust and hair so you should not forget to get it cleaned every few years.
Inspect your fireplace. Make sure the cap/screen on the top of the chimney is in good repair. If there is no screen have one installed to keep birds out which cause a potential fire hazard from any nests they will build. The creosote as well as the soot could be removed by cleaning it. It's also important that the damper would close and open properly.
Lastly, you should have your roof, gutter and downspout inspected. You should inspect the flashing to ensure that the water wouldn't creep under the shingles. Clean your gutters to make certain there is no leaf buildup and the downspouts are clear. If you want the water to steer clear from your house, you should try extending your downspouts as well as consider installing leaf guards.
Make sure that there won't be any leaks. An easy way to find out where heat is leaking out, and cold is seeping in, is to walk around inside your house on a windy day, with a lit incense stick. You must hold it near the usual "leaky" places such as door and window frames as well as electrical outlets. When you find the leaks, you may want to install weather stripping, or caulking to seal the gaps. You can install foam insulators behind electrical outlets as well as light switches.
This may seem obvious to most people, but be sure to check your windows. The window would be the one that would provide the path for a great loss of heat in your home. If your windows are older you can install storm windows over single-pane glass or heavy plastic on the inside. The heat wouldn't escape with these. Buying a set of insulated drapes could also help you out.
To stay safe and comfortable, you should check on the furnace often. Ensure that it works well by turning it on. This is also a good time to hire a professional so it would be cleaned and tuned. The filters should be changed often during the winter since dirty filters would reduce the air flow and cause fires. Changing your old furnace to a new energy-efficient one could be a great idea.
You shouldn't forget about the pipes too. Pipes near exterior walls or those in crawl spaces have the highest risk of freezing during those cold winter months. Wrapping those pipes with insulation provides added protection and can prevent major damage should the pipes freeze and burst throughout the winter months.
Also, it's important to check on your ducts. Those homes that have central heating could lose heated air even before this reach the vents since the ductwork isn't working properly. Your ducts could also accumulate dust and hair so you should not forget to get it cleaned every few years.
Inspect your fireplace. Make sure the cap/screen on the top of the chimney is in good repair. If there is no screen have one installed to keep birds out which cause a potential fire hazard from any nests they will build. The creosote as well as the soot could be removed by cleaning it. It's also important that the damper would close and open properly.
Lastly, you should have your roof, gutter and downspout inspected. You should inspect the flashing to ensure that the water wouldn't creep under the shingles. Clean your gutters to make certain there is no leaf buildup and the downspouts are clear. If you want the water to steer clear from your house, you should try extending your downspouts as well as consider installing leaf guards.
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