Winterizing Your Home - Do It Now!
Now is the time to winterize your home. Don’t wait until the weather is cold and you’d rather be inside your home, warm and cozy. Not only will you be increasing the comfort and safety in your home but you can also save money.
Get the most out of your Heating System
- The best way to maximize your current heating system is to have it serviced by a professional every year to ensure that it is operating properly. Also having the ducts cleaned and filters changed will produce immediate results in the amount of heat and airflow produced.
- A programmable thermostat is another way to save money. This will allow you set the temperature drop a little when you are not home or at night when you’re sleeping. You will save money in lower utility costs.
- “Zone heating” is an additional way to save money. This system will allow you to heat the areas of your home where you spend the most time rather than heating the whole house.
Check your ducts
- According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air ducts can lose up to 60% of the heat they’re carrying before it ever gets to your home’s living areas if duct work is not well-connected and insulated or if it travels through unheated spaces.
- Have a service technician check to make sure you don’t have any pinched pipes or gaps in the ducts.
- It is also a good idea to have them cleaned out every few years in order to eliminate the amount of dust, animals and other junk that accumulates in them.
Keep Your Hot Water Heater Hot
- It takes, on average, 14 percent of your overall utility bill to provide hot water.
- You can save money by wrapping a water heater blanket around your water heater, insulating your water pipes and installing a timer if you have an electric water heater.
Check Insulation
- Because warm air rises, one of the single most effective ways to save on heating is to make sure you have enough insulation in your attic.
- You need a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic. An easy way to figure if you need additional insulation, is if you can see your ceiling joists, you need more insulation. (Ceiling joists are 10-11 inches tall).
Stop the Gaps
- In order to keep your home warm and cozy you need to keep the cold air out. This is accomplished by sealing any cracks on the exterior of your home.
- Look for gaps around windows, doors or outdoor faucets. Caulk anywhere you see cracks, gaps or holes.
Block the Leaks
- This is when you seal the leaks inside your home.
- Look for cracks around windows, on perimeter walls and around electrical outlets on exterior walls. Apply caulk to any area where you see a crack or gap or feel a draft.
Clean your gutters
- Remove any debris from the gutters, by hand or scraper and rinse with a hose. You want the rain to be able to drain.
- Clogged drains can cause what is known as “ice damming”. This condition prevents water from draining properly through the gutter and will cause it to seep into your home and eventually drip from the ceilings and walls.
Check your chimney
- The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 14% of the air leaking out of our homes goes out the chimney.
- Keep your damper closed when not in use.
- Have your chimney inspected by a certified chimney sweep before “firing it up” for the season.
- Wood stoves should have glass doors on them, and keep them closed when not in use.
Check your alarms
- This is a great time to check the operation and change the batteries on your home’s smoke detectors.
- According to fire officials, smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years.
- Check your fire extinguisher to make sure it works.
- Invest in a carbon-monoxide detector – every home should have at least one.
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