10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter is in full swing. You can tell by the bare trees, early sunsets, and layer of frost every 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 during winter.

1. Request Maintenance for Your Heating System

Your furnace has been inactive all summer. To get it ready for another heating season, arrange for a visit from a qualified technician to examine, clean and service the equipment. The most cost-efficient way to keep your heating system in great shape through the years is to enroll in a Maintenance+ membership.

2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected

Hire a professional to inspect and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace once a year. This service clears away ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can trigger 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, look for and seal air leaks that allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The best way to find leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick all around areas that might be leaky, including 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. Use Ceiling Fans in Reverse

Ceiling fans keep you cool in the summer, but they can also circulate warm air down to the living space over the winter. For best results, set your fans on low and find the switch that lets them spin in reverse. This method is most effective in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.

5. Install Insulating Drapes

A different way to winterize your home is to swap out light, summery window coverings for heavy, insulating drapes. Make sure to pull back the drapes during the day so the sun warms your home for free. Then, shut the curtains after dark for added insulation against the frigid night air.

6. Insulate Your Pipes

As the temperature falls, exposed pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting. Install foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to keep this from happening. Electric heat tape under 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 in the winter. Use caution with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are functional. Then, add CO detectors on every floor of your home, primarily outside sleeping areas. Test your alarms each month and replace the batteries every six months.

8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Do you still use an old analog thermostat? You could save on heating bills this winter by installing 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 with the capability to change the settings remotely by using 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 develop along the eaves, preventing melted snow from melting off the roof. Left alone, ice dams can allow water to get under the shingles and damage structures in the attic. Follow these tips to deter ice dams this winter:

  • Clean the gutters so water can drain properly.
  • Ventilate the attic to stop heat buildup that can melt snow from below.
  • Seal attic floor penetrations to stop heated air from rising through the ceiling.
  • Insulate the attic floor to further decrease heat transfer through the ceiling.
  • Seal and insulate ductwork inside 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 icy winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe to walk on by sprinkling salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer along the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Remember to read the directions for specific application tips and any potential precautions.

Winterizing Your Home with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

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