* This is a repeat post but worth posting again as winter will be here before you know it.
Now is the time to begin preparations for the long, cold months ahead. These 7 tips on getting your home ready for winter apply to most homeowners:
- Make sure your furnace is ready. You don’t want to be stuck on the first cold day of the season without heat. Change filters and stock up on new ones. Schedule a repair if needed. Heating professionals are busy and become even busier when the unprepared realize too late that their furnaces need fixing.
- Get your chimney checked by a professional and have it cleaned. Animals like to build nests in chimney flues which is a safety concern, as is creosote buildup. For more information on the care and keeping of chimneys, visit the Chimney Safety Institute of America’s website.
- Test your smoke alarms. You should be doing this monthly as it is, according to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). The agency recommends replacing the batteries at least once a year and replacing units every 10 years.
- Blow out your sprinkler system. Turn off outside spigots and drain them as well. Cold weather can cause freezing, which is an expensive headache you won’t want to deal with later.
- Clean gutters. Clogged gutters prevent water from properly draining and can also fill with ice and cause snow buildup on your roof. The weight from snow, and then subsequent leaking from melting snow, can seriously damage your roof.
- Clean and dry patio furniture and store it away from the elements.
- Trim bushes and branches that are near the house to prevent damage during severe weather.
For more tips, read this. Then get to work! And if you have any useful tips that have worked for you, let me know in the comments!
You make sure your car is tuned up and that your children have the right outerwear for the upcoming winter months. Your home is no different. Now is the time to begin preparations for the long, cold months ahead. The following will give you some tips on how to get your home ready for winter.
Make sure your furnace is up to snuff. You don’t want to be stuck on the first cold day of the season without heat, right? Change filters and stock up on new ones. Schedule a repair if needed. Heating professionals are busy and become even busier when unprepared people (not you) realize too late that their furnaces need fixing.
Along those lines, if you have a wood stove or a fireplace, get your chimney checked by a professional and have it cleaned. Animals like to build nests in chimney flues which is a safety concern, as is creosote buildup. For more information on the care and keeping of chimneys, visit the Chimney Safety Institute of America’s website.
Test your smoke alarms if you haven’t already. You should be doing this monthly as it is, according to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). The agency recommends replacing the batteries at least once a year and replacing units every 10 years.
Blow out your sprinkler system if you have one, and turn off outside spigots and drain them as well. Cold weather can cause freezing, which is an expensive headache you won’t want to deal with down the line.
After the leaves have fallen, be sure to clean your gutters. Clogged gutters cause a host of problems because they prevent water from properly draining. Clogged gutters can also fill with ice and cause snow buildup on your roof. The weight from snow, and then subsequent leaking from melting snow, can seriously damage your roof.
Clean and dry patio furniture and store it away from the elements.
Trim bushes and branches that are near the house to prevent damage during severe weather.
For more tips, read this handy article. Then get to work! And if you have any useful tips that have worked for you, let me know in the comments!
Worried about safety issues or high energy bills due to inefficiencies in your home’s appliances or heating system? The following 5 quick winter home improvements will pay dividends.
1. Wrap that water heater. If you have a traditional electric tank storage water heater, it may benefit from a blanket. Put your hand against the outside of the tank. If it feels warm, it may not be as energy efficient as it could be. Check out this guide for everything you need to know about the process and its benefits.
2. Make sure your carbon monoxide (CO) detector works properly. Gas and wood burning stoves and fireplaces can elevate CO levels to dangerously high levels. Beyond properly maintaining appliances, functioning CO detectors provide additional peace of mind.
3. Replace the air filter in your furnace. Filters coated with dust reduce air flow and make the unit run harder so change filters every three months for optimum efficiency. Buy a couple when they’re on sale so you always have them handy.
4. Install a programmable thermostat. Save on your heating bill by installing a programmable thermostat. According to the EPA, “By turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees F. for 8 hours, you can save 5 to 15 percent a year on your heating bill — a savings of as much as 1 percent for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long.”
5. Close the fireplace damper when not in use. This one action, which doesn’t cost you anything, prevents warm air from flowing upwards and keeps it in the room where you want it. For more information on heating and cooling efficiently, visit Energy Star.
What are your thoughts on these 5 quick winter home improvements? Have any more? Share them in the comments!
