How to Set Your Home for Winter
It’s winter season again. When the air suddenly becomes colder, it seems to give one a feeling of cuddling in his own bedroom and also enjoying a great time at home for the holidays. Most families spend their time together during winter season when it is still holiday. They stay home to bake goodies, play board games and do lots of fun stuff. Hence, it is important to keep the place warm and safe. So, there are a few things that you have to check on during winter.
Actually, you have to do this while it is still autumn. Good preparation is the key in order to have a home perfect for the winter season. But you can still check on the following items we have below to ensure that you have winterize your home. Some people say that one of the best things of winter is setting the warmth of a home. So, here are some things that you need to look into to set your home for winter:
1. Have your fireplace checked.
Your fireplace would be very much needed for winter. For homes that make use of the traditional fireplace designs with chimney, your chimney should be clean and removed of soot. Make sure that you still have a screen on top of the chimney to keep out birds and rodents from entering. Prepare firewood or chop wood and keep it in a dry place of your home. If you are using modern fireplaces that use gas, you should also give it a test run to make sure it works well.
2. Block exterior entry points and leaks.
It is also important that you have blocked all entry points from the exterior of your home. This can ensure you that the snow and water will not get into your home. It would cause more damage and would require more cleaning if it gets inside. So, see to it that even before the winter season came, you have sealed all leaks and possible entry points. Even doors and windows have to be checked to prevent water from entering.
3. Check gas furnace.
Have your furnace inspected and cleaned. See to it that it works too. Stock up air filters for you would be changing it monthly. Keep away flammable items near your furnace to avoid untoward incidents.
4. Trim trees and bushes.
Prevent winter injury brought by tall trees by having it trimmed. Cut all trees with branches that hang close to your home. It might cause problems when it suddenly breaks due to accumulated snow on it. See to it also that you cut branches near electrical wires to avoid problems. You have to prepare your landscape for this season. Include sealing brick patios and moving some plants indoors.
5. Check roofing and clean gutters.
You also have to see to it that your roof have no leaks to prevent water from entering your home. Cracks on your roof should be fixed since it can cause a bigger damage when ice enters it. Clean your gutters free from leaves and other debris. You can also place screens on gutters to keep out leaves from clogging it.
6. Install window insulators and door stripping.
Your windows and doors are the primary entry points for water and is could also set out the warmth from inside your home. Place weather stripping to your door to prevent cold air from entering the door. You can also create drafts and place them at the bottom of your door. Drafts can be made from rolled towel or cloth. You can also make one with sand inside. For your windows, install insulators which are actually plastic sheets that you can tape on your windows to add extra layer of protection from cold. If you have storm windows, put it up.
7. Avoid plumbing freezes.
Since it is winter, water would be frozen during that time. So, cover pipes, open spouts, drain hoses and turn-off your water from outside of the house. Remember that when water freezes, it turns into ice and expands. That would cause damage if you will not look into your plumbing.
8. Adjust ceiling fans.
If you think you can no longer use your ceiling fan during winter, you actually still can. All you have to do is flip its rotation direction to let it blow upward. Hot air rise in winter, so to keep the room warm, the fan should blow upward to circulate the hot air in the room. Just return the fan’s direction when the weather becomes warm.
9. Insulate other areas.
Aside from insulating your windows and doors, you also have to check other important areas in your home like the basement and attic. Insulate your attic by using at least 12 inches of insulation. This can help preserve hot air that rises to your attic. Also, make sure that you basements are covered well especially that snow would be accumulating near it.
10. Have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Since you will be having closed windows, there will be little air circulation. So, install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to alert you for some bad things to happen. Test these equipment to make sure that they work. You can place them near your furnace or water heaters.
Winterizing your home is important to keep everyone safe. It will also ensure you to keep warm during this cold weather. Let your family enjoy the holidays by having a safe and warm home. You should be able to secure your home to avoid damage and save your money too.
