Don't let the winter catch you unprepared. Here are a few tips that you can do to get your home winter ready.
Have the Furnace Inspected
Call an HVAC
professional to check the fan belt that runs the blower, vacuum out dust and
debris, and oil the bearings if necessary. Buy enough filters to see you
through the winter months and change them monthly--when filters become clogged
with dust, the furnace doesn't operate efficiently and your energy bill goes
up. Set the thermostat at 68 to save on energy costs, and consider replacing a
manually controlled thermostat with a programmable one. This allows you to set
the temperature at a comfortable level when you're in the house and cut it back
to a cooler level when you're at work. Used properly, programmable thermostats
can save up to $180 a year on heating and cooling costs.
Wash the Windows
Yes, it's a tedious
job, but washing the windows inside and out twice a year--spring and
fall--rewards you with sparkling views, unobstructed light, and the opportunity
to check for cracks and damaged caulking. Use a commercial window cleaner or
make your own by mixing ¼ cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon of water.
Newspaper makes the best "cleaning rag" because it's absorbent and
won't leave lint, but wear gloves to protect your hands from the newsprint.
Make your windows
air tight
According to
experts, 10 percent of the air that leaks out of a house exits through the
windows. Caulk around window frames and apply weatherstripping between the sash
and window frame to eliminate air leakage. Tension seal and magnetic types of
weatherstripping are durable and effective for double-hung windows. For
casement and sliding windows, apply self-adhesive V-strip weatherstripping to
the side of a clean, dry sash or window jamb. Measure the length you need, cut
the V-strip to fit, then peel off the paper backing while pressing the strip in
place.
Install Storm Windows
Install storm
windows to reduce air leakage year-round. You can find storm windows with
vinyl, wood, or aluminum frames and glass or plastic panes. Glass is heavier
but longer lasting and clearer than plastic, which scratches easily and yellows
over time. Interior storm windows are generally mounted inside the window jambs
or flush with the molding. They're easy to install but must be removed when you
want to open the windows to let in fresh air. An exterior double-track or
triple-track storm window is permanently installed on the outside of the
window, and the lower half of the window moves in a separate track from the
screen so you can lower or raise it to control air flow.
Put the Ceiling Fan in Reverse
Check your ceiling
fan for a switch that allows you to reverse the direction of blade
movement to turn clockwise instead of counter-clockwise. Warm air rises, and
the clockwise rotation of the blades forces the warm air down to where people
benefit from it.
Clean the Eves
troughs
Whether your eves troughs have become roof-line planters
like this one or have simply accumulated a season's worth of fallen leaves, get
them cleaned out before winter rains and snows arrive. After scooping out
leaves and debris, flush the gutters and downspouts with a strong stream of
water from a hose. Make sure the eves troughs fit snugly
against the house and repair any cracks or damage. Many companies offer leaf
guards that claim to prevent leaves from collecting in the eves troughs, but most don't keep out dirt,
debris, and seeds, so you'll still have to flush them out.
Check Smoke Alarms
and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Experts recommend
replacing the batteries in smoke alarms twice a year, and if your smoke alarm
is between 5 and 10 years old, replace it with a new one. There should be at
least one smoke alarm on every level of your house and one in or near each
bedroom. Safety experts recommend similar placement for carbon monoxide
detectors--high on the wall, one on every level of the home, and near bedrooms.
Where NOT to put them: within 15 feet of gas appliances furnace, or fireplace
because these give off small amounts of carbon monoxide when they're first
turned on and would trigger false alarms.
Protect Pipes from
Freezing
To minimize the
possibility of water freezing in your plumbing pipes causing them to burst,
wrap each pipe in a blanket of foam insulation. Check hardware stores
for these foam tubes, which have a slit on one side. Just cut the tube to the
length you need, pull the slit open, and push the tube onto the pipe. If the
slit doesn't have self-adhesive edges, use duct tape to secure it.
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