Preparing for Winter

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.

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