Winterizing Your Home

8/20/2019 (Permalink)

As you know we are located in Naperville, IL. That being said we can have some very cold and bitter winter months. To prepare you and your home to the harsh weather we have curated some tips to help minimize damage.

1. Protect your pipes

Water expands when it freezes, that being said when water is inside your pipes, there is also a chance of your pipe cracking or bursting.

- drain the water from outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems

-disconnect outdoor hoses

-cover outdoor facets with foam insulators

2. Check the heat

-Change your furnace filter at the start of the season and then every two to four months. Clogged or dirty filters are less efficient, which means your home might not warm up properly

- install programmable thermostat. By changing g the temperature to be cooler at night, could possibly save you money.

3. Prevent ice dams

Ice dams form when heat escapes through the roof and melts snow that's settled there. That snowmelt flows to your roof's edge and refreezes, usually at the eaves. The problem with an ice dam is that snow that later melts can't properly drain, so it has to go somewhere… and that might be through a leak in your roof, causing water damage in your home.

Luckily for you there are ways to prevent this from happening:

• Clean out clogged gutters and downspouts
• Seal places that may allow warm air to leak from your home to your attic, such as vent pipes, chimneys, attic hatches, and light fixtures.
• soffit vents, which are along the eaves of the house and allow air to flow into the attic, are clear

4. clean and store lawn equipment in a safe place

-empty all of the fuel. You can remove what’s left with a meat baster. By allowing the gas to sit it can damage fuel lines.

-Clean the machine of oil and yard debris and sharpen the blades.

-Store them for winter in a basement, garage, or covered storage shed where they're safe from the weather.

5. Inspect chimney/fireplace

A professional chimney sweep can clean out soot and other debris that could catch fire. You shouldn't be able to feel any cold air coming down the chimney. You can also install glass fireplace doors or a chimney inflatable that blocks cold air from coming down the chimney and keeps in warm air. 

6. Seal all windows and doors

Having gaps will make it hard for your house to stay warm during the cooler months. Caulk around windows and install weather stripping around doors as needed. This minor and inexpensive task can help you save on heating costs. 

If your windows and doors are older, they may be inefficient single-pane windows or uninsulated doors. Consider upgrading to double- or even triple-pane windows and insulated doors and garage doors to boost the energy efficiency of your home. 

7. Stock up on the cold weather essentials

Winter storms may call for power outages. That being said you can never be too prepared.

Stock up on things such as:

-A working, fully charged fire extinguisher

-An alternative heat source such as a generator, wood-burning stove, or fireplace.

-Sand, ice melt, and a shovel if where you live is prone to ice and snow

- emergency kit