When the days turn shorter and nights start becoming chilly, you should know that winter is on its way. This should be a signal to you that it’s time to start preparing your home for the winter.
Winterizing your home, will help you save a lot of money, while giving you some peace of mind for the whole winter season. You can carry out the whole winterizing process in only one weekend by having a clear guideline of what needs to be done and having all the necessary materials ready.
Winterizing Your Home For A Great Winter Season
Inspect the roof, gutters and downspouts. Check the roof for leaks and check flashing to ensure that water cannot enter your home. You should clean the gutters to get rid of any debris that may have accumulated over time and then clear the downspouts by spraying using a hose. Confirm that vents or attic fans are in good condition and have any nests or other blockages cleared.
Inspect your home exterior for cracks. This is where you should inspect your house for cracks and have them completely sealed if present. You should also ensure that there are no openings in windows and doors and this will help to keep out the chilly weather as well as retaining the warmth within the house. Check glass windows and doors for cracks and consider repainting any exposed wood.
Inspect your furnace and get the fireplace ready. Inspect your furnace to ensure that it is in good working condition. You should also keep stock of furnace filters as you will need to be changing these on monthly basis during the winter season. Ensure that the fireplace damper is opening and closing properly and you can also have the chimney cleaned if this has not been done for a while. Buy chop wood and store in a dry place.
Test the thermostat. Turn your heater on and set the thermostat to 80 degrees to test the heating system. Listen to make sure your furnace comes on in a timely manner. Within a few minutes, you should feel warmer air coming out of the vents. If everything seems to be in order, reset your thermostat back to normal. If not, there may be a problem. This is an issue you need to have corrected quickly, before the cold weather becomes unbearable.
Insulate Exposed Piping. Before the winter kicks in good, you need to check any exposed water or drain piping located in crawlspaces, attics, basements, even on exterior walls, such as waterhose faucets. Make sure each one is foam insulated, at the least. If possible, wrap each one with electrical heating tape first, then apply the insulation on top of it. This will help keep pipes from freezing, adding to the cost of heating water in your home.
Other preparations for the winter season include reversing fan direction, wrapping water pipes to prevent bursting, covering outdoor furniture, inspecting deck or patio foundations and preparing an emergency kit among others. Sparing time to carry out all this will help you to avoid surprises, which can be quite expensive during the winter season.
Article provided by Mitch Ribak a Suntree FL real estate agent specializing in helping home buyers and sellers purchase Viera FL real estate and Melbourne Beach FL real estate.
