Winter is coming with cold weather, snow and ice which can cause havoc on your house and property. It is necessary to prepare your house for winter. There are a number of steps you can take to winterize your home.
Insurance Policy
Review you home insurance policy to make sure you are sufficiently protected from any concerning winter weather related risks.
Check Your Insulation
The most critical component of winterizing your home is ensuring that the heat stays in and the cold stay out. Add an extra layer of insulation to your walls, as well as attic floor and basement ceiling. Insulate your pipes and water heater to prevent freezing.
Install door sweeps that attach to the bottom of the door to seal the gap between the door and the threshold. Caulk or weather strip around windows and chimneys.
Heating Tips and Safety
All heating equipment should be. installed by a qualified professional according to local codes and manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure fuel burning equipment is vented to the outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Your fireplace should have a sturdy screen to prevent ashes from flying into the room. Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from a heat source..
Heating Oil and Propane Delivery
Be sure to clear all the snow and ice leading to and around your fuel pipe. Snow must be removed from around all exhaust vents as well as above your tanks. Accumulating snow can easily block vents and force carbon monoxide into the house or cause heating system malfunctions.
Exterior Attention
An empty house needs to be winterized because cold weather can easily freeze and damage your home’s pipes. Do not turn your thermostat off but keep at a low temperature to prevent freezing pipes. Shut off water at the main valve and open all the faucets to allow the water to drain out.
Other safety tips include unplugging electronics and appliances to eliminate the chance of fire.