Home living conditions are worse during the winter season. The cold weather puts you in a sleepy and lazy mood all day, often leaving the cleaning and washing work to pile up. On top of that, snow and ice can seriously damage your home, costing you a lot of money on repairs.
Make your family’s winter experience different this year by taking the time and effort to prepare your home for the season. Here are 6 must-follow tips that will keep your home safe and warm during the cold winter months:
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Add insulation to your attic space.
Your attic space is often the number one source of heat loss in your home. As heat rises, it can escape your home once the attic is not properly insulated. To add new insulation in your attic space, first, you have to remove the old, damaged insulation. Second, apply new attic insulation and air seal the space to prevent leaks. Finally, get an energy assessment to help you detect areas that require extra insulation. This will help your home achieve maximum energy efficiency.
Weatherstrip the doors and windows.
It is very common for doors and windows to have gaps around them, which can let hot air out and cold air in during the winter season. Aside from causing discomfort in your home, the air leaks around doors and windows can also cause your heating bill to skyrocket. Simple weatherstripping can help you solve the problem. For added protection against heat loss, use a plastic film to cover your windows and heavy drapes against sliding doors.
Clear the gutters and downpipes.
After preparing your indoor space, make sure to check on your home’s exterior. To prevent blockage during heavy rains and snow, it is important to do advance checking of your gutters and downpipes. Make sure they are clear from any debris. If your home has cracked or damaged gutters, it’s better to remove them and get new replacements. Instead of doing a DIY gutter replacement, you can help protect your home by leaving the job to the pros.
Repair faulty house lights.
Your house lights are essential components of your property’s security system. While you can’t go out during the cold nights to make the security rounds inside your property, you can help deter robbers or intruders by keeping your exterior well lit, eliminating dark areas for hiding. To ensure you have properly functioning indoor and outdoor lights, do a thorough inspection of all fixtures.
Perform a test run of your heating system.
Your home’s heating system will keep your home warm during the cold winter months. To ensure it stays in good working condition throughout the winter, conduct seasonal maintenance with the help of a licensed and skilled pro. The time to do any repairs or maintenance on your furnace and other heating appliances is during fall. A test run must be conducted no later than the end of October to ensure no operating issues will occur later on.
Get the fireplace ready.
Everyone loves the fireplace during winter. Families spend the cold nights together by sitting around the fireplace, reading, or watching movies together. Before winter sets in, don’t forget to inspect the wood-burning fireplace, chimney, and flue. Clean the chimney from obstructions like bird’s nests and dirt debris. If it has been years since you last had your fireplace cleaned, do not attempt to do all the cleaning work now and leave it to professional cleaners.
End the winter season with an AC tune up
Some people may think it’s too early to get an AC tune-up during winter. Well, if you want to extend the lifespan of your HVAC system and maintain its smooth functioning, you should consider getting the system tune-up done early. Don’t wait for the summer season to arrive before you fix your home’s air conditioning issues. Remember, your AC appliance does not only work to cool your home but as well as improve the quality of the air you and your family breathe.
A highly functioning HVAC system can help you save money on monthly energy bills and free you from any worries of discomfort. So, waste no time and book an early AC tune-up schedule with your trusted HVAC company.