6 Steps to Protect Your Home this Winter
Winter is here, and even though you might be cozying up inside your house might be struggling to keep warm. If you want to help your home (and yourself), the answer is simple, winterize it!
Start with the basics — Focusing on safeguarding your pipes is one of the most valuable things you can do when the temperatures get bitterly cold.
Be sure to:
· Keep the water running through your pipes to ensure they don’t freeze. Leave a steady drip of water on with all of your faucets.
· If a sink’s pipes are in a cabinet underneath it, keep the cabinet doors open to let the warm air in.
· Add warmth to your water meter by wrapping insulation around it.
In addition to pipe protection, here’s a list of things you should check off your list this month to get started winterizing your home.
1. Clean the gutters – Water damage in your home is most commonly caused by clogged gutters. When checking your gutters make sure to clear leaves, sticks, and other debris that gets stuck in there to make sure that snow, ice, and extra rain flow easily and properly.
2. Check for cracks and leaks – Inspect sealant around doors and windows to make sure it’s not letting cold air in and your warm air out.
3. Reverse your ceiling fan – Turning your fan to rotate clockwise will circulate warm air downward, relieving the tension on your furnace and ultimately your heating bill.
4. Inspect your roof – This is arguably one of the most important items on this list. Roofing issues are one of the most expensive problems you can have, so take some extra time to check for holes or cracks in roof flashing.
5. Check your furnace – Scheduling a routine furnace check up can always help especially during the winter. Additionally, changing the filter, cleaning out the ducts and vents, and checking the fan belt can all improve efficiency.
Overall, these steps are here to make sure that your winter is full of warm and cozy days so get started and be on your way to a great season!
Courtesy of Westchester Magazine
Keep those winter blues at bay, and let in the light!