There’s no escaping it, winter is almost here. You’ve probably spent more time thinking about holiday decorations than winterproofing your home. To protect your investment, however, seasonal maintenance is a must. And winter is one of the most important seasons to spend time protecting your home against the elements. Here’s a checklist of items to help you navigate vulnerable areas of the home.
∙ Make sure your furnace is in working order. Hire a professional who can clean, lubricate, and adjust the furnace for maximum efficiency. Replace the filter regularly.
∙ Check your doors. If you have gaps under doors, cold drafts will come in and heated air (that you’re paying for!) will flow out. You can add rubber to the bottom of your doors to fill the gap or purchase temporary draft snakes. You can even use rolled up towels as a short-term solution.
∙ Close vents that may have been opened for the warm weather.
∙ Disconnect hoses from outside faucets and turn off the water.
∙ Buy a snow shovel and other winter supplies such as salt for walkways before snow and ice hits.
∙ Keep extra water and canned food in storage just in case you’re in a situation where the weather makes it too treacherous to venture out of the home for several days.
∙ Freezing water pipes is a common problem during winter. If water freezes inside a pipe, it can expand and cause the pipe to burst, resulting in extensive damage to your plumbing. Make sure your pipes are insulated, stripped, and caulked. During extraordinarily frigid temperatures, you may need to run a trickle of water on all faucets and keep cabinetry open below sinks to expose pipes to warm air in your home.
∙ If you’re using a fireplace for added warmth and coziness, make sure you know how to do so safely. ∙ Take time to schedule a deep clean and inspection by a chimney professional. Also, always remember to keep pets and children away from the flames and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Never let a fire burn unattended, and never dump recently burnt ashes in the trash. Make sure the fire is completely extinguished before falling asleep.
∙ For all fireplaces, check that the flue seals tightly when not in use. This prevents cold air from coming in and warm air escaping through the chimney.
∙ Windows are one of the biggest areas where heat escapes and cold air enters. Especially in older homes, weatherproofing the windows can make a big difference in energy costs and a comfortable living area. Caulk or weather-stripping are the best ways to weatherproof windows. But if windows are long past their prime, consider replacement with energy-efficient double paned windows.
∙ Check the attic, walls, and basement for adequate insulation.
∙ Hire a contractor to look for damaged roof shingles and loose gutters.
Winterproofing the home involves tasks that can be done relatively inexpensively, but will make a big difference in the comfort level of your home. Whether you tackle the items on your own or hire a professional, you’ll be keeping your home warmer and safer during the cold winter months.