When winter weather sets in outdoors, many of us begin
spending more time inside our homes. Whether you love curling up in front of a
fire or sleeping in on chilly mornings, before you start getting into that
wintertime state of mind, there’s something you should do first — make sure
that your home is ready for the winter season, too.
Keep reading to learn a few simple but essential ways that
homeowners should prepare their homes for winter.
Check For Drafts
There’s
nothing worse than feeling a crisp blast of cold air seeping through cracks and
crevices in your home. Before sub-zero temperatures start this year, take the
time to check for drafts. While doors and windows are common spots for drafts,
you should also check around electrical outlets, ceiling fans, and vents.
Once you found
a draft, grab your caulk gun and seal those cracks and crevices to lock out
cold air. Around doors, you can replace the weather stripping to improve the
seal around the bottom. If your doors and windows are older, even caulk and
weather stripping might not be enough to get rid of drafts. If this is the
case, consider upgrading them this season.
Have Your HVAC System Serviced
We
recommend having your heating system serviced by a professional at least once a
year. Why? The technician can make sure that all parts are working correctly,
and there are no leaks or other malfunctions.
Having
your HVAC system serviced before you need to turn on your heat will give you
time to get it repaired if needed. The last thing you want to do is flip on the
heat ahead of the first cold night of the year only to find nothing but cool
air coming from your vents.
Check for Broken Appliances
The
holidays can be a tough time to replace major household appliances. Stores may
run low on stock when countless homeowners are looking to take advantage of
sales or upgrade their homes ahead of holiday parties. And if you’ll get
hosting guests during the upcoming season, you may not have time to go shopping
for a new stove or washing machine when yours goes out.
Take
the time to look over your household appliances and consider whether or not
they are likely to make it through the winter. If not, now is a great time to
go ahead and replace them. Because heating and electricity bills rise when
temperatures drop, if you do choose to upgrade, consider investing in
energy-efficient appliances to help offset that increase.
Clean your Chimney
Before
using your fireplace or wood-burning stove, have your chimney cleaned and
inspected. Doing so is a safety precaution that can help prevent a house fire
from happening due to buildup in the chimney. The National Fire Protection
Association recommends having it done at
least once a year.
Check Your Insulation
Your
home’s insulation can not only help keep you warm this winter but can also cut
down on your energy costs as heating bills begin to rise. But both of these
things can only happen if your insulation is in good shape and you’ve chosen
the right type for the job.
Now is a
great time to consider whether or not you need to replace your home’s
insulation. If you can access it, head to your attic and look to see whether
there are spots where insulation is missing or looks thin. If the insulation
here is lacking, it’s likely lacking within the walls of your home as well.
If you
think that replacing the insulation in your home’s walls means ripping them
out, think again. Cavity fill injection foam makes it easy to improve your
home’s insulation without launching a major construction project.
Test Your Generator
Generators
are a great backup in case the power goes out in your home. This is especially
important during the winter months when temperatures drop.
Check to
make sure that you have plenty of fuel for your generator. Fire it up to make
sure that it works properly, too. If you don’t have a generator and live in an
area that experiences extreme winter weather, consider investing in one.
Check Your Car
While not
technically your home, it’s still important to prepare your car for
winter.
Keeping supplies
in your trunk like an ice scrape, water, food, and blankets can be lifesavers
if you find yourself stuck in a winter storm on the road. Also, make sure that
your tires are properly insulated to get better traction on winter roads.
Prepping Your Home for Winter
You’re probably already planning to get out your
coziest blankets or some holiday decorations this season. Don’t forget to prep
the rest of your home for winter as well.
From checking for drafts to serving your HVAC
system to upgrading your insulation, these tips can help keep you warm and
cozy, keep your heating bills in check, and even help keep you safe in an
emergency.
