10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter is finally here. You can tell by the leafless trees, early nights, and layer of frost in the morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, there’s still time. Run through these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm this winter. 

1. Schedule Maintenance for Your Home’s Heating 

Your furnace has been dormant all summer. To get it ready for another heating season, arrange for a visit from a qualified technician to inspect, clean and tune up the equipment. The most affordable way to keep your heating system in tip-top shape over the years is to sign up for a Maintenance+ membership. 

2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected 

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

3. Seal Air Leaks 

As you start to run your furnace all winter, search for and seal air leaks that allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The easiest way to notice leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick in areas that could be leaky, such as near windows and doors, recessed light fixtures, plumbing penetrations and electrical outlets. Then, seal the leaks up with weatherstripping, caulk, foam gaskets and expanding spray foam. 

4. Run Ceiling Fans in Reverse 

Ceiling fans keep you cool in the summer, but they can also disperse warm air down to the living space during the winter. For better results, set your fans on low and flip the switch to run them in reverse. This tactic is ideal for stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings. 

5. Install Insulating Drapes 

An additional way to winterize your home is to exchange light, 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, close the curtains after dark for added insulation against the cold night air. 

6. Insulate Your Pipes 

As the temperature dips, exposed pipes are vulnerable to freezing and bursting. Install foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to prevent this. Electric heat tape beneath the insulation provides an added layer of protection in particularly frigid climates. 

7. Install Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors 

Sealing up your house, baking more and heating with combustion appliances elevates the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning in the winter. Be careful with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are working. Then, install CO detectors on every floor of your home, especially close to sleeping areas. Test your alarms monthly and change the batteries twice yearly. 

8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat 

Do you still have an old analog thermostat? You can save on heating bills this winter by getting a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings optimize the temperature throughout the day, so you can set it and forget it. A Wi-Fi thermostat is a high-tech option that lets you change the settings remotely with an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance recommendations. 

9. Prevent Ice Dams 

Ice dams are ridges of ice that develop along the eaves, preventing melted snow from draining off the roof. Left unaddressed, ice dams can allow water to reach under the shingles and damage structures in the attic. Follow these tips to avoid ice dams this winter: 

• Clean the gutters so water can drain properly. 
• Ventilate the attic to prevent heat buildup that can melt snow from underneath. 
• Seal attic floor penetrations to stop warm 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, not into the attic. 

10. Keep Deicer Handy 

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

Winterizing Your Home with Calverley Service Experts 

Many winterization tips relate directly to your home heating, cooling,and plumbing systems. If you need help winterizing your home, reach out to Calverley Service Experts. We offer excellent furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare your home for winter. For more information about our services or to {request|schedule|arrange]] an estimate, please contact your local Calverley Service Experts office today.