Winter is definitely on its way since it's getting colder now. Snow and cold temperatures will soon be upon us, and along with these weather conditions come some risks and dangers. Readiness is always our best defense against nature's elements. What can you possibly do to "winterize" your home? The following would be some helpful points to keep you warm and safe this winter:
Be sure to check for leaks. You could walk around inside your house on a windy day with a lit incense stick so you can easily find out where heat could leak and cold could seep in. Try holding it near the common "leaky" areas such as electrical outlets and window and door frames. If you find some leaks, you could seal the gaps using caulking or weather stripping. You can install foam insulators behind electrical outlets as well as light switches.
Though this may be obvious to almost everybody, yet you have to guarantee to check your windows. The window would be the one that would provide the path for a great loss of heat in your home. If your windows are older you can install storm windows over single-pane glass or heavy plastic on the inside. That would help in preventing the heat from escaping. If you'd like, you can just go for a set of insulated drapes.
Always check your furnace as well. It should be working well so you should turn it on to ensure this. This would also be the perfect time to call a professional to get it cleaned and tuned. Filters should be changed often during the winter, as dirty filters reduce air flow and can cause fires. It would be a great idea if you could change your 10 year old furnace to a new energy-efficient one.
You shouldn't forget about the pipes too. On winter months, the pipes near exterior walls or on crawl spaces would have the biggest risk of getting frozen. You could protect these pipes from major damages by wrapping them with insulation.
Likewise, check on your ducts. Those homes that have central heating could lose heated air even before this reach the vents since the ductwork isn't working properly. These ducts should also be cleaned every few years to get rid of dust as well as hair.
Inspect your fireplace as well. Ensure that the cap or screen is on top of the chimney and is in good repair. When there are no screen, you should install one so you could keep birds away and the danger they could bring by building nearby nests. You should also get it cleaned so that the creosote as well as the soot would be removed. Make sure the damper opens and closes properly.
Finally, inspect your roof, gutter and downspouts. Inspect the flashing so you can be sure that the water wouldn't creep under the shingles. Clean these too so there would be no leaf accumulation and the downspouts would be clear. You can try installing leaf guards as well as adding extensions on the downspouts so that the water would be directed away from your home.
Be sure to check for leaks. You could walk around inside your house on a windy day with a lit incense stick so you can easily find out where heat could leak and cold could seep in. Try holding it near the common "leaky" areas such as electrical outlets and window and door frames. If you find some leaks, you could seal the gaps using caulking or weather stripping. You can install foam insulators behind electrical outlets as well as light switches.
Though this may be obvious to almost everybody, yet you have to guarantee to check your windows. The window would be the one that would provide the path for a great loss of heat in your home. If your windows are older you can install storm windows over single-pane glass or heavy plastic on the inside. That would help in preventing the heat from escaping. If you'd like, you can just go for a set of insulated drapes.
Always check your furnace as well. It should be working well so you should turn it on to ensure this. This would also be the perfect time to call a professional to get it cleaned and tuned. Filters should be changed often during the winter, as dirty filters reduce air flow and can cause fires. It would be a great idea if you could change your 10 year old furnace to a new energy-efficient one.
You shouldn't forget about the pipes too. On winter months, the pipes near exterior walls or on crawl spaces would have the biggest risk of getting frozen. You could protect these pipes from major damages by wrapping them with insulation.
Likewise, check on your ducts. Those homes that have central heating could lose heated air even before this reach the vents since the ductwork isn't working properly. These ducts should also be cleaned every few years to get rid of dust as well as hair.
Inspect your fireplace as well. Ensure that the cap or screen is on top of the chimney and is in good repair. When there are no screen, you should install one so you could keep birds away and the danger they could bring by building nearby nests. You should also get it cleaned so that the creosote as well as the soot would be removed. Make sure the damper opens and closes properly.
Finally, inspect your roof, gutter and downspouts. Inspect the flashing so you can be sure that the water wouldn't creep under the shingles. Clean these too so there would be no leaf accumulation and the downspouts would be clear. You can try installing leaf guards as well as adding extensions on the downspouts so that the water would be directed away from your home.
About the Author:
We offer the only Alberta Home Insurance policy that can be truly tailored to your needs. Or Visit our Edmonton Home Insurance resource page for a quick overview and helpful insurance tips for your home.
No comments:
Post a Comment