Winter is in full swing. You can tell by the bare trees, early sunsets, and layer of frost each 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, request 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 time is to sign up for a Maintenance+ membership.
Get a professional to inspect and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace once a year. This service removes 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 get ready to run your furnace in cold weather, search for and seal air leaks that allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The easiest way to discover leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick all around areas that might be leaky, including 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 distribute warm air down to the living space in the winter. For best results, set your fans on low and run them in reverse. This strategy is most effective in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
A different 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 continues warming your home for free. Then, close the curtains after dark for added insulation against the brisk night air.
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 keep this from happening. Electric heat tape under the insulation gives you an added 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 over 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 close to sleeping areas. Test your alarms monthly and change the batteries twice a year.
Do you still own an old analog thermostat? You could 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 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 freezing winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe by scattering salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer along 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, reach out to Midland Air Service Experts. We offer affordable furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare you for cold weather. For more info about our services or to {request|schedule|arrange]] an estimate, please contact your local Midland Air Service Experts office today.
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