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!