Winter is just around the corner (well, it’s already hit some places), and that means it’s time to address your home maintenance winter checklists again.
There’s a lot you can do to get your home ready for the ice and snow, but this checklist will focus on the tasks you should definitely take care of now to keep your family and your home warm and safe.
1. Insulate Windows and Walls
Older windows are notoriously drafty, and this means your furnace will have to work twice as hard to keep your house half as comfortable.
You can replicate your own affordable storm windows by covering the inside of drafty windows with clear, heavy-duty plastic.
And if you’ve got some extra time and money, bulk up the insulation on all your exterior walls, in your attic, and in the basement or crawlspace.
2. Weather Strip Everything
Weather stripping may be relatively cheap and easy to install, but don’t underestimate the value of this magical insulating tool.
By sealing drafts around doors, windows, vents, mail chutes, and even gas and electrical lines, you can increase the temperature in your house by a few degrees without turning up the heat, and this means you’ll be more comfortable and you’ll save money.4.
3.Get Your Heating and Ventilation System Inspected
Because your home is so closed up in winter, poor ventilation can lead to moisture buildup in the air, and this could eventually cause mold problems.
You should also have your HVAC and ventilation systems inspected by a professional before the heating season starts, to ensure air is circulating and venting properly. Finally, don’t forget to change or clean your furnace filters every one to three months.
4.Wrap Water Lines to Prevent Freezing
The only thing worse than a frozen pipe is one that bursts, because then you’ll be stuck dealing with a flood inside in the middle of winter. The easy fix for this is to wrap your waterlines with insulation before the freezing temperatures hit.
Expert tip: If you’re going away overnight or on vacation in winter, leave a few taps dripping ever so slightly to keep water moving through the lines, this way they won’t mess up your entire plumbing system.
5. Keep Air Intake and Vents Free of Ice
Snow and ice can build up all around the exterior of your home in winter, and if this causes a blockage with air intakes or exhaust vents, it can prevent air from moving in and out of your house properly.
With something like an exhaust vent for a gas appliance, this can be particularly dangerous.
6. Stock Up on De-icing Salt
De-icing salt can be a lifesaver in winter, but it’s not going to help you if you’re snowed in and can’t go out to buy some. Before the first snowfall hits here in Mason, OH, get out to the hardware store and pick up a bag (and extra shovels if need be).
Many people love to stay warm and bundled up inside over the winter months, and this checklist will make sure that your home and your family stay safe and cozy over the next few months. This winter, drive safe, be careful, and enjoy the snow!
7. Test Your Detectors and Alarms
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors should be tested monthly, especially in winter when the house is closed up, the heat is on, and maybe there’s a fire burning in the hearth.
And if you haven’t changed the batteries in over a year, or don’t know when the batteries were last changed, then put fresh ones in each alarm in the house.