Winter is in full swing. You can tell by the bare trees, early nights, and layer of frost in the morning. If you haven’t winterized your home yet, it isn’t too late. Use these winterization tips to keep your home safe, efficient and warm this winter.
Your furnace has been dormant all summer. To get it ready for another heating season, request 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.
Get a professional to inspect and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace once per year. This service removes ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can cause chimney fires. It also grants you peace of mind that the masonry, chimney liner, crown, and other fireplace components are in suitable condition.
As you get ready to run your furnace more often, search for and seal air leaks that will allow cold outdoor air to get inside. The easiest way to find leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick in areas that may be leaky, like 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.
Ceiling fans keep you cool over the summer, but they can also disperse warm air down to the living space during the winter. For the best results, set your fans on low and run them in reverse. This tactic is ideal for stairwells and rooms with high ceilings.
Another way to winterize your home is to trade out 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 brisk night air.
As the temperature drops, exposed pipes are vulnerable to freezing and bursting. Put in foam pipe insulation to plumbing in the garage, crawlspace or unfinished basement to minimize the risk. Electric heat tape underneath the insulation creates an additional layer of protection in especially frigid climates.
Sealing up your house, baking more and heating with combustion appliances elevates the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning over 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 every six months.
Do you still use an old analog thermostat? You might save on heating bills this winter by upgrading to a programmable model. Pre-programmed settings optimize 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 change the settings remotely using an internet-enabled device. You also benefit from automatically generated energy reports and maintenance recommendations.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that develop along the eaves, preventing melted snow from draining off the roof. Left alone, ice dams can allow water to reach under the shingles and damage structures in the attic. Try these tips to prevent ice dams this winter:
Slips and falls are more common in icy winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe by scattering 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 recommended precautions.
Many winterization tips relate directly to your home heating, cooling,and plumbing systems. If you need help winterizing your home, reach out to Midway Services. We offer excellent furnace maintenance and repair, plumbing work, and other services to prepare your home for cold weather. For more info about our services or to {request|schedule|arrange]] an estimate, please contact your local Midway Services office today.
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