10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter has arrived. You can tell by the bare trees, early evenings, 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 dormant all summer. To make preparations for another heating season, request a visit from a qualified technician to inspect, clean and tune up the equipment. The most cost-efficient way to keep your heating system in good shape over time is to sign up for a Maintenance+ membership.

2. Have Your Fireplace Inspected

Get a professional to examine and clean your wood-burning stove or fireplace annually. This service clears away ash, soot and creosote buildup, which can result in chimney fires. It also provides you peace of mind that the masonry, chimney liner, crown, and other fireplace components are in excellent condition.

3. Seal Air Leaks

As you get ready to run your furnace all winter, search for and seal air leaks that enable cold outdoor air to get inside. The best way to discover leaks is to hold a lit candle or incense stick near 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 during the summer, but they can also circulate warm air down to the living space over the winter. For the best results, set your fans on low and run them in reverse. This method is most effective in stairwells and rooms with high ceilings.

5. Install Insulating Drapes

An additional 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 continues warming 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 drops, exposed pipes are in danger 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 underneath the insulation creates an additional layer of protection in very cold 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. Use caution with matches, candles and other open flames, and make sure your smoke alarms are functional. Then, put in CO detectors on every floor of your home, particularly near sleeping areas. Test your alarms every month and change the batteries twice yearly.

8. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Do you still use 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 where you can change the settings remotely by using 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 form along the eaves, stopping melted snow from melting off the roof. Left unaddressed, ice dams can allow water to reach under the shingles and damage things in the attic. Use these tips to avoid ice dams this winter:

  • Clean the gutters so water can flow properly.
  • Ventilate the attic to prevent 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 restrict heat transfer through the ceiling.
  • Seal and insulate ductwork inside the attic.
  • Ensure your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and the dryer vent lead outside, not into the attic.

10. Keep Deicer Handy

Slips and falls are notably common in icy winter weather. Keep your sidewalks and driveway safe for pedestrians by scattering salt, kitty litter or chemical deicer along the pavement to melt the ice and snow. Remember to read the directions for proper application tips and any potential precautions.

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

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