10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter is in full swing. You can tell by the barren trees, early evenings, and layer of frost each morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, there’s still time. Run through 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 inactive all summer. To get it ready for another heating season, arrange for a visit from a qualified technician to examine, clean and service the equipment. The most affordable way to keep your heating system in good shape over time is to sign up for a Maintenance+ membership.

2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected

Call a professional to inspect and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace annually. This service takes care of 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 get ready to run your furnace more often, search for and seal air leaks that allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The best way to discover leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick near areas that may be leaky, such as near windows and doors, recessed light fixtures, plumbing penetrations and electrical outlets. Then, seal the leaks up with weatherstripping, caulk, foam gaskets and expanding spray foam.

4. Run Ceiling Fans in Reverse

Ceiling fans keep you cool during the summer, but they can also circulate warm air down to the living space over the winter. For best results, set your fans on low and flip the switch to run them in reverse. This strategy is best used in stairwells and rooms with tall ceilings.

5. Install Insulating Drapes

An additional way to winterize your home is to swap out thin, summery window coverings for thicker, insulating drapes. Remember to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun can warm your home for free. Then, pull the curtains after dark for added insulation against the frigid night air.

6. Insulate Your Pipes

As the temperature falls, exposed pipes are in danger of freezing and bursting. Add foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to keep this from happening. Electric heat tape beneath the insulation creates an added 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 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, primarily close to sleeping areas. Test your alarms monthly and swap out the batteries twice a year.

8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Do you still use an old analog thermostat? You could save on heating bills this winter by installing 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 an innovative option where you can change the settings remotely by using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance recommendations.

9. Prevent Ice Dams

Ice dams are ridges of ice that develop along the eaves, preventing melted snow from falling off the roof. Left unaddressed, ice dams can allow water to get under the shingles and damage structures in the attic. Use these tips to prevent ice dams this winter:

  • Clean the gutters so water can clear away like it’s supposed to.
  • Ventilate the attic to prevent heat buildup that can melt snow from below.
  • Seal attic floor penetrations to stop hot air from rising through the ceiling.
  • Insulate the attic floor to further decrease heat transfer through the ceiling.
  • Seal and insulate ductwork up in the attic.
  • Ensure 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 cold winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe to walk on by scattering salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer on the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Don’t forget to read the directions for correct application tips and any potential precautions.

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

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