Sunday, October 02, 2005
Winter Proofing Your Home Part Two
Here is the second half of our first installment. Follow these guidelines for maximum home efficiency during the winter months.
Fireplaces and Wood Burning Stoves. Inspect your fireplace and wood burning stove for proper functioning. If necessary, have it professionally inspected and cleaned in order to prevent the number of accidents that can happen with a malfunctioning or dirty unit.
Furnace Filters. Change your furnace filters once every couple of months to ensure that they are working properly. A clean filter will increase the life of your furnace as well as keep harmful particles from entering your home environment. Choose above grade filters for maximum performance.
Attic Insulation. Add an extra layer of insulation in your attic. Ideally, your attic should provide a recommended R-30 insulation value, which measure to about 13 inches of loose fill fiberglass insulation. Don't forget to add extra insulation around attic entry ways to prevent additional lost heat from these spaces.
Fire Extinguishers. Check the charge of your fire extinguishers. If you don't own a fire extinguisher, you should consider purchasing one for each floor of your home. These are powerful tools against small fires that can happen for a variety of reasons.
Outside Your Home. Inspect your roof for missing or loose shingles to reinforce the performance of your roof. Cut down any stray limbs and branches that could freeze and fall on your home, damaging it. Clean out gutters and downspouts frequently to keep leaves and muck from clogging your system.
Fireplaces and Wood Burning Stoves. Inspect your fireplace and wood burning stove for proper functioning. If necessary, have it professionally inspected and cleaned in order to prevent the number of accidents that can happen with a malfunctioning or dirty unit.
Furnace Filters. Change your furnace filters once every couple of months to ensure that they are working properly. A clean filter will increase the life of your furnace as well as keep harmful particles from entering your home environment. Choose above grade filters for maximum performance.
Attic Insulation. Add an extra layer of insulation in your attic. Ideally, your attic should provide a recommended R-30 insulation value, which measure to about 13 inches of loose fill fiberglass insulation. Don't forget to add extra insulation around attic entry ways to prevent additional lost heat from these spaces.
Fire Extinguishers. Check the charge of your fire extinguishers. If you don't own a fire extinguisher, you should consider purchasing one for each floor of your home. These are powerful tools against small fires that can happen for a variety of reasons.
Outside Your Home. Inspect your roof for missing or loose shingles to reinforce the performance of your roof. Cut down any stray limbs and branches that could freeze and fall on your home, damaging it. Clean out gutters and downspouts frequently to keep leaves and muck from clogging your system.
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How do you change a furnace filter? Where is a good place to get one? Are there specific sizes for different furnaces or is it a one size fits all?
Changing a furnace filter is fairly simple. Locate the metal housing, usually on the side of the furnace. Then, slide the old one out and replace it with the new one. Most home improvement centers carry a full range of furnace filters. Don't go for the cheapest, because these usually don't work as well. Spend a few more dollars for a brand that is more efficient. Changing your HEPA style filter is almost as simple. Locate the front of the media housing, and then replace the filter in the same fashion.
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