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.
Winter Proofing Your Home
Question: "Now that winter is coming up, I know that I should be doing some chores to get my home ready for the cold temperatures. What are your suggestions for winter proofing my home before the snow comes?”
Thanks so much for your question. It is good to see that winter proofing your home is on your mind this early in the game. Many homeowners neglect these simple but vital chores and end up regretting it when the cold weather hits. These are simple ideas that you can do yourself that will protect your home throughout the winter and save you money when the cold weather months are over.
Weather stripping. Inspect your windows and doors and determine the condition of your weather stripping. Gaps in windows and doors will cost you hundreds of dollars in lost heating that will show up on your energy bills. If the weather stripping is inadequate, a trip to the hardware store will provide you with replacement weather stripping materials.
Electrical Outlet Sealing. This is one of the most neglected parts of your home that can also cost you a great deal in energy expenses. Caulk around electrical outlets and fixtures to seal up any gaps and cracks. Expandable foam will also work well in these places. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for caulking and sealing to a T for maximum protection.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. The winter months call for a close inspection of all of your smoke and carbon monoxide protectors. Smoke detectors should be installed near every bedroom within 10 feet of the bedroom doors. You should have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor. Make sure you have fresh batteries installed at all times.
Thanks so much for your question. It is good to see that winter proofing your home is on your mind this early in the game. Many homeowners neglect these simple but vital chores and end up regretting it when the cold weather hits. These are simple ideas that you can do yourself that will protect your home throughout the winter and save you money when the cold weather months are over.
Weather stripping. Inspect your windows and doors and determine the condition of your weather stripping. Gaps in windows and doors will cost you hundreds of dollars in lost heating that will show up on your energy bills. If the weather stripping is inadequate, a trip to the hardware store will provide you with replacement weather stripping materials.
Electrical Outlet Sealing. This is one of the most neglected parts of your home that can also cost you a great deal in energy expenses. Caulk around electrical outlets and fixtures to seal up any gaps and cracks. Expandable foam will also work well in these places. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for caulking and sealing to a T for maximum protection.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. The winter months call for a close inspection of all of your smoke and carbon monoxide protectors. Smoke detectors should be installed near every bedroom within 10 feet of the bedroom doors. You should have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor. Make sure you have fresh batteries installed at all times.
