The chill air of autumn is already covering many states, and it won’t be long before the snow starts to fly and the ice starts to form. That means that now is the perfect time to start making sure that your home is ready for winter. You don’t want to be left in the cold when you realize your heater isn’t working or your insulation isn’t as good as you thought it was.
Check Your Heaters
Start your winter preparations by making sure that your home’s heating system is working. Make sure that vents are clear and that you change out dirty filters. If your furnace is working it may be an easy fix you can do on your own, or you may need to call someone in to look at it. Also make sure your home’s carbon monoxide detector is in working order.
If you have space heaters you will also want to give them a once over to make sure they are dust and debris free, and that the cords or not damaged or frayed before you need to start plugging them in for the season.
Check Your Insulation
Is your home insulated, or is the insulation in your home still adequate to protect it from the elements outdoors? These are important questions, as insulation helps hold the heat in your home, and keep out the cold, when the winter months hit.
Not only do you want to make sure your walls are properly insulated, but you should also make sure that your attic is insulated, if your home has one. Your attic can let in a lot of cold air making you pay a higher heating bill all winter long.
Protect Your Pipes
One of the worst things that happens to homes that are unprepared for winter is the freezing of pipes. Frozen pipes can lead to broken pipes, which can be a very expensive fix.
Make sure that you have heating tape on your lines coming into the house so that you ensure no frozen pipes. When it is really cold and your area alerts that it is time to leave a stream of water running through the night, do it. It could save you a lot of cash in repairs.
Seal Windows And Unused Doors
If you have doors or windows that tend to leak air, you’ll want to get them fixed before winter strikes. Even covering them with plastic might not be enough if they let too much air in from the outside.
Once you’ve dealt with leaks you can cover your windows, and any unused doors, with plastic to help keep any other cold air out. Even non-leaky windows can let in cold that you don’t want during the winter.