Winterizing your home is more than keeping cold and warm air out. An adequately winterized house ensures that you and your family stay warm and comfortable as the temperatures dip. In addition, by sealing holes, insulating plumbing, and checking for damage, you’ll save money on heating costs and reduce the risk of cold-related home repairs. Winterizing your home is something people only sometimes talk about, but it is a lot more important than you might think! Here’s a roundup of the most essential ten tips for Winterizing your home!
1 Depending on the United States region, you’ll need to protect your pipes from bursting this winter using tubular pipe wrap, rolled pipe wrap, and insulation fittings.
2 Add Weather Stripping to Doors and Windows Weather stripping or installing storm doors and windows will prevent cold air from entering your home or heat from escaping it, reducing your power bills. Door sweeps are also effective and easy to keep the cold out.
3 Protect the pipes insulating those that could be susceptible to freezing. When the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, keep a stream of water running in a few faucets to guard against freezing and bursting. To protect plumbing under kitchen and bathroom sinks, consider opening the cabinet doors so warm air can surround the pipes.
4 Block the Cold Caulk around windows and use foam outlet protectors to prevent cold air from entering your home. However, most heat loss typically occurs via openings in the attic. Check to make sure that you have enough insulation.
5 Keep it cozy. Set your thermostat to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit and ensure your house or apartment is well-insulated. Consider installing an energy-efficient or programmable thermostat to help you keep warm air in the rooms you use the most without raising high energy bills.
6 Have your heating system checked. Furnaces, boilers, and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to clear any buildup and to keep them running efficiently.
7 Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Residential fires are more common in winter, so all your smoke detectors must work. Check them monthly and replace batteries as needed. It would be best if you also considered installing a carbon monoxide detector to avoid inadvertently trapping the toxic gas in your home.
8 If you have any exterior plumbing, shut off faucets and let pipes and hoses drained. Next, bring your hose and cover the fixture with a foam protector. This will ensure your hose doesn’t develop rips or tears over winter and keep your tap from freezing. Water trapped in pipes can freeze and crack, causing leaks within walls.
9 Protect your plants; you’ll need to bring plants and flowering trees inside before the first cold snap. Typically, you should bring your plants in before temperatures dip below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
10 Clean your gutters of leaves and debris. This will ensure that melting ice will flow freely away from your house instead of expanding and breaking inside your gutter or downspout. If possible, install a gutter guard mesh to keep larger debris from collecting in the gutter.