2016 New Year’s Resolution: Prepare My Home for the Cold
The weather took a sharp turn as soon as it hit 2016. When the frigid weather becomes consist and snow hits the ground, will you be ready? Don’t let yourself or your house be stuck out in the cold. Winterizing your house is an important maintenance tool, and great New Year’s Resolution, to ensure your structure’s longevity, a comfortable winter and the best way to save money this season. Not winterizing can lead to devastating issues like burst pipes, snapped gutters and an uncomfortably cold house. To avoid any such catastrophes, we’ve outlined a simple 12 step guide to make your winter a little more proactive.
Step 1: Caulk any leaks in your windows.
Filling the cracks in your windows that air can leak through will insulate your rooms and in turn, save energy.
Step 2: Clean your gutters.
Falling leaves and debris cause blocked gutters, which leads to drainage issues. This may cause ice in your gutters which weighs them down to the point of breakage.
Step 3: Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans.
Reversing their direction to clockwise and putting them on low will push the hot air that rises back down to keep you more comfortable with a lower heating bill.
Step 4: Replace air filters.
This solution is not only inexpensive, it will improve the movement of air through your home, and more importantly improve the air quality which is extremely important during the time of year everyone is more susceptible to illnesses.
Step 5: Remove any window unit air conditions.
Leaving these in will let the hot air leak out of your home and simultaneously decrease your air quality.
Step 6: Purchase a door draft blocker.
These are an extremely simple solution to stop air from escaping under doors. They come in plenty of colors and styles to fit your home décor and size is customizable.
Step 7: Close off rooms that no one uses and shut the vents.
There’s no need for you to heat a room that is hardly ever used. Shutting its vent and sealing that room off will push heat back into parts of the house that are more utilized so that you save energy and money.
Step 8: Install a Wi-fi controlled thermostat.
This allows more opportunities to adjust the temperature while you’re sleeping and out of the house, which means saving on heating costs. Call a Broadley’s Comfort Adviser today for a no obligation, free inquiry on our variety of Wi-fi controlled thermostats and worry-free installation.
Step 9: Make sure your plumbing is ready.
Frozen pipes can lead to a lot of expensive damages to your home. Make sure to close valves supplying outdoor hose bibs while leaving outside hose bibs open to allow water to drain and avoiding expanding pipes. Consider installing products that insulate your pipes such as pipe sleeves or UL-listed heat tape.
Step 10: Check carbon monoxide detectors.
If you are turning on heating equipment that hasn’t been used since last winter, you want to make sure everything is still safe to use with no poisonous leaks.
Step 11: Move the furniture off vents.
A simple solution that will make a dramatic improvement to heating your room.
Step 12: Ensure you are insulated.
Making sure that you have proper insulation will help keep your home comfortable, and energy costs down. Places like basements and attics are key to look out for since a lot of heat can leak out of these places.