10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter has arrived. You can tell by the bare trees, early sunsets, and layer of frost each morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, you still have time. Run through these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm this winter.

1. Request Maintenance for Your Heating Equipment

Your furnace has been unused all summer. To make preparations for another heating season, arrange for a visit from a qualified technician to evaluate, clean and service the equipment. The most cost-effective way to keep your heating system in tip-top shape through the years is to subscribe to a Maintenance+ membership.

2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected

Get a professional to inspect and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace annually. This service clears away ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can result in chimney fires. It also provides you peace of mind that the masonry, chimney liner, crown, and other fireplace components are in suitable condition.

3. Seal Air Leaks

As you prepare to run your furnace all winter, search for and seal air leaks that will 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 could be leaky, such as near windows and doors, recessed light fixtures, plumbing penetrations and electrical outlets. Then, seal the leaks you find 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 better results, set your fans on low and run them in reverse. This tactic is ideal for 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 thick, insulating drapes. Be sure to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun warms your home for free. Then, pull the curtains after dark for additional insulation against the brisk night air.

6. Insulate Your Pipes

As the temperature falls, exposed pipes are vulnerable to freezing and bursting. Put in foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to keep this from happening. Electric heat tape underneath the insulation gives you an extra layer of protection in especially frigid 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 during the winter. Exercise caution with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are working. Then, add CO detectors on every floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas. Test your alarms every month and replace the batteries twice a year.

8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Do you still use an old analog thermostat? You might save on heating bills this winter by getting a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings fine-tune the temperature at various 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 with an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance advice.

9. Prevent Ice Dams

Ice dams are ridges of ice that form along the eaves, preventing melted snow from draining off the roof. Left unaddressed, ice dams can allow water to get under the shingles and damage structural elements in the attic. Try these tips to deter ice dams this winter:

• Clean the gutters so water can flow like it’s supposed to.
• Ventilate the attic to prevent heat buildup that can melt snow from beneath.
• Seal attic floor penetrations to stop hot air from rising through the ceiling.

• Insulate the attic floor to further reduce heat transfer through the ceiling.
• Seal and insulate ductwork up in the attic.
• Make sure your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and the dryer vent lead outside the house, not into the attic.

10. Keep Deicer on Hand

Slips and falls are more common in freezing winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe for pedestrians by applying salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer across the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Remember to read the directions for correct application tips and any potential precautions.

Winterizing Your Home with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

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