Cole Phillips

NMLS # 2304798

864-915-9603

colephillips@dhlmortgage.com

Cole Phillips Mortgage Loan Originator

9 Easy Steps to Winterize Your Home!

9 Easy Steps to Winterize Your Home!

9 Steps to Winterize Your Home!

Winterizing your home can prevent potential damage to your furnace, plumbing and roof. Taking preventive action now can also help save on heating costs. Here are a few action items to keep in mind this winter:

1. Disconnect outside water hoses.

It’s important to disconnect outside water hoses at the end of the season. Water expands when it freezes, so this will help prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.

2. Cover outside faucets with an outdoor cover.

You should take preventative measure and shut off the internal valve and drain water from any outside faucet. This will help prevent the remaining water from freezing. These should be covered up to help protect them from the cold. You can buy specific covers for these from a local store.

3. Check all detectors.

Make sure that all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working for the winter. Winter is when most home fires occur with the furnace at high use as well as home fireplaces.

4. Clean out gutters and clear the roof.

Clearing out gutters and your roof can be beneficial to keeping away moss build-up and pests for the winter. This will help keep away excess moisture that could be an issue come the spring.

5. Service your heating system.

Taking care of your heating system ahead of time will help prevent repairs and damage occurring during the cold months. These companies tend to be their busiest these times and no one wants to go without heat in the winter.

6. Check for drafts and seal any cracks.

Making sure that doors and windows are sealed properly will help prevent drafts inside the home and keep the warm air inside, helping save on high heat bills.

7. Adjust your thermostat.

If possible, lowering your thermostat during the day can help save on your energy bill. According to energy.gov you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill by setting your thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours at a time.

8. Move plants indoors.

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on plants and move them indoors for the winter. The cold air and frost may damage the roots. That way they’ll be healthy and ready for the spring.

9. Have monitoring devices updated/installed.

The more you update and take care of your monitoring systems the longer they’ll stay in good shape and keep a longer life span. A new thermostat may make a difference in comfort and convenience this holiday season.

Don’t forget your 2nd Home and Rentals!