preparing your home for the winter
Ready or Not, Winter is on its way! The time to prepare your home for the cold weather is now. Please keep personal safety in mind when checking items off this list. You should always consult with a trusted professional for help with anything you are unable to do yourself.
1. Install weatherstripping
Check your home’s exterior doors for cold air leaks. Do this from inside the house. To do this, move a lit candle around the door frame; the flame will blow toward you when there is a draft. Seal a drafty door by installing foam or felt weatherstripping inside the door frame. Ask at your local hardware store for the correct products and installation instructions.
2. Install a door sweep
Use a door sweep to stop drafts from entering your home under an exterior door. A sweep is a flexible piece of rubber or plastic that’s held to the door’s lower edge by a strip of aluminum.
3. Plug household leaks
Grab a tube of caulk, a can of spray foam gap-sealer, find and fill cracks and gaps in siding, windows, and foundation. Use caulk for small cracks and the foam sealer for bigger gaps. Inside the home use a candle flame to find where cold air is entering. Pay attention to door frames, windows, skylights, chimneys, and vents. Check openings around appliance vents, electrical and plumbing fixtures and furnace ducts.
4. Seal furnace ducts
Heating ducts waste 20 to 30 percent of the heated air to leaks and poor conduction, says EnergyStar. Leaky heat ducts mean higher utility bills and a house that’s harder to keep warm. You won’t be able to reach all the ducts — some are hidden in walls, ceilings, and floors. You can improve performance by sealing exposed ducts in the attic, crawl space and garage. Focus on the places where ducts, vents, and registers meet floors, walls and ceilings.
5. Close the damper
Make it a habit to close the damper after the fireplace has cooled. Heated air flies up and out of the chimney when you leave the fireplace damper open.
6. Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat can save up to $180 a year on energy costs, according to EnergyStar. The thermostat can save energy costs by adjusting your home’s temperature while you’re away. It also keeps temperatures consistent.
7. Set the temperature — and leave it
You can enjoy energy savings by setting your thermostat and leaving it alone. If you’re chilly, put on a sweater and warm socks instead of raising the heat.
Learn more in the article “10 Ways to Stay Warm and Win the Thermostat Wars.”
8. Replace furnace filters monthly
Dirty furnace filters reduce furnace efficiency and push up heating bills. They also shorten the life of a furnace. Check and replace the furnace filter every three months while the system is in operation.
9. Insulate the hot water heater
Save on energy costs by wrapping older water heaters in a blanket of insulation. Your utility company has instructions. When insulating a gas or propane water heater, do not cover the burner access.
Do not insulate:
- Pre-insulated water heaters. These are newer units with factory installed insulation of R-16 or better (check the manufacturer’s label) under the metal shell.
- Water heaters located where the added heat is welcome.
- Water heaters whose manual or paperwork warns against insulating.
- Tankless (on-demand) water heaters.
10. Lower the hot water temperature
Hot water heaters are set at 140 degrees. Lower the temperature on yours to 120 for energy savings. The water still will be plenty hot for bathing, washing clothes and doing dishes.
11. Set ceiling fan blades for winter
Set fan blades to move clockwise in winter, and run fans slowly. The idea is to lift cool air to the ceiling and push heated air down where you can enjoy it. Some fans have a remote control or remote switch. Otherwise, use a ladder and adjust the small toggle switch on the fan body.
12. Use your window coverings
You may be surprised at how much insulation curtains, drapes, shades and even mini blinds can provide. Draw window coverings at night and when you’re away to conserve heat in the home. In hot weather, draw window coverings in the morning to keep the house cool, saving money on air conditioning and heating.
The main reason most people winterize their home is to save money on their energy bills, while also making their home more comfortable during the winter months. If you have been considering selling your home this fall/winter these winterizing steps will have you one step ahead of the game.
