Winter is finally here. You can tell by the bare trees, early nights, and layer of frost in the morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, it isn’t too late. 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 per year. This service removes ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can cause chimney fires. It also provides 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 allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The easiest way to notice leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick in areas that could 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.
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 method is best used in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
An additional way to winterize your home is to exchange thin, 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 cold night air.
As the temperature falls, exposed pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting. Add foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to prevent this. Electric heat tape underneath the insulation provides an additional layer of protection in especially frigid climates.
Sealing up your house, baking more and heating with combustion appliances raises the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning over the winter. Be careful 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 outside sleeping areas. Test your alarms every month and change the batteries twice yearly.
Do you still have an old analog thermostat? You can save on heating bills this winter by getting 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 adjust the settings remotely using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance tips.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that develop along the eaves, preventing melted snow from draining off the roof. Left alone, 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:
Slips and falls are more common in cold winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe by sprinkling salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer on the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Remember to read the directions for specific application tips and recommended precautions.
Many winterization tips relate directly to your home heating, cooling,and plumbing systems. If you need help winterizing your home, call Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air. We offer affordable furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare your home for winter weather. For more information about our services or to {request|schedule|arrange]] an estimate, please contact your local Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air office today.
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