We could say winter is 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. Our best defense against these would be preparation. So what can you possibly do to make your home "winterized"? Here are some helpful tips to help you keep warm and safe this winter:
Guarantee that your home is free from leaks. You'd be able to know where the heat would leak and the cold would seep in by walking around inside your house with a lit incense stick on a windy day. You should hold it near the common leaky spaces just like windows and door frames as well as electrical outlets. In the event you locate some leaks, you should seal the gaps with the use of weather stripping as well as caulking. Foam insulators can be installed behind light switches and electrical outlets.
Although this is obvious to many people, you should not forget to check your windows. Remember, windows provide a path for the greatest loss of heat from your home. If your windows are older you can install storm windows over single-pane glass or heavy plastic on the inside. That would help in preventing the heat from escaping. Buying a set of insulated drapes could also help you out.
For safety and comfort, always check your furnace. Turn it on to make sure it's working properly. Contact a professional to get it cleaned and tuned as well. During the winter, you should frequently change the filter since dirty ones could reduce the air flow and cause fires. Upgrading your furnace if it's already 10 years old would be a great idea.
Don't forget about the pipes as well. The pipes that are in crawl spaces as well as near exterior walls would have the greatest tendency to get frozen during winter. You could protect these pipes from major damages by wrapping them with insulation.
Ducts are also an important thing to check on. When the ductwork doesn't work properly, heated air would be lost even before it reaches the vents. Your ducts could also accumulate dust and hair so you should not forget to get it cleaned every few years.
Inspect your fireplace. Ensure that the cap or screen is on top of the chimney and is in good repair. When there are no screen, you should install one so you could keep birds away and the danger they could bring by building nearby nests. This should also be cleaned to remove the soot and the creosote. The damper should also close and open properly.
Finally, inspect your roof, gutter and downspouts. Inspect the flashing to make sure water cannot creep under the shingles. You should clean them as well so that there would be no leaf buildup and the downspouts would be 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.
Guarantee that your home is free from leaks. You'd be able to know where the heat would leak and the cold would seep in by walking around inside your house with a lit incense stick on a windy day. You should hold it near the common leaky spaces just like windows and door frames as well as electrical outlets. In the event you locate some leaks, you should seal the gaps with the use of weather stripping as well as caulking. Foam insulators can be installed behind light switches and electrical outlets.
Although this is obvious to many people, you should not forget to check your windows. Remember, windows provide a path for the greatest loss of heat from your home. If your windows are older you can install storm windows over single-pane glass or heavy plastic on the inside. That would help in preventing the heat from escaping. Buying a set of insulated drapes could also help you out.
For safety and comfort, always check your furnace. Turn it on to make sure it's working properly. Contact a professional to get it cleaned and tuned as well. During the winter, you should frequently change the filter since dirty ones could reduce the air flow and cause fires. Upgrading your furnace if it's already 10 years old would be a great idea.
Don't forget about the pipes as well. The pipes that are in crawl spaces as well as near exterior walls would have the greatest tendency to get frozen during winter. You could protect these pipes from major damages by wrapping them with insulation.
Ducts are also an important thing to check on. When the ductwork doesn't work properly, heated air would be lost even before it reaches the vents. Your ducts could also accumulate dust and hair so you should not forget to get it cleaned every few years.
Inspect your fireplace. Ensure that the cap or screen is on top of the chimney and is in good repair. When there are no screen, you should install one so you could keep birds away and the danger they could bring by building nearby nests. This should also be cleaned to remove the soot and the creosote. The damper should also close and open properly.
Finally, inspect your roof, gutter and downspouts. Inspect the flashing to make sure water cannot creep under the shingles. You should clean them as well so that there would be no leaf buildup and the downspouts would be 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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