Hello December! It is the most wonderful time of year, but that also means winter is knocking at your front door! As we sing “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” next to a warm fire, we have to remember that it really is getting cold outside and the importance of weatherizing your home. You don’t want to be caught saying “bah humbug” on the big day when a pipe bursts or you’re hit with a high energy bill while paying off all those holiday gifts! Here are some of our favorite tips and trick to protect your home all winter long.
- Clean Your Gutters – Make sure that water can safely run through your gutter so that they don’t freeze while overflowing and cause major damage. Do It Now! Don’t wait before it gets too cold making it unappealing to go outside and get the work done.
- Winterize Your AC and Exterior Water Lines – Drain all the water from your hoses, irrigation system, and AC lines so that they can’t freeze or burst. Make sure all the lines are turned off. Next, remove any window AC units so that the cold air can’t get in between the crack, saving you money in the long run.
- Run Fans in Reverse – Did you know that most fans have a switch that can turn them in reverse? Counterclockwise rotation produces cooling breezes while switching to clockwise makes it warmer. Air pooled near the ceiling is circulated back into the living space—cutting your heating costs as much as 10 percent.
- Lower Your Thermostat – In the summer you probably have the temperature set to high because even 73 feels cool on an 85-degree day. The same goes for the winter. You can lower the setting to 68, and that will feel nice and toasty compared to the freezing temps outside. If you have a programmable system, set it to drop even lower while you’re not around to save you money on your heating bill.
- Get Draft Guards – You are paying a pretty penny to heat your home during the winter. Protect your wallets by installing draft guards on your exterior doors. This will keep air from seeping out or in making it easier for your temperature to be regulated.
- Proceed with Caution When You’re Gone – If you are traveling for the holidays and the weather is going to get down to freezing make sure you leave few sinks dripping to avoid any pipes from freezing. You should also never turn your heat all the way off. Try to maintain at least 55 degrees while you are gone making sure your home stays warm enough to work correctly.
This time of year, you want to be wishing people Happy Holidays and not wishing you would have done more to protect your home! There are so many small things you can do to prepare for winter. For more ideas check out these article for ways you can keep your home running at its best and potentially save money doing it.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-projects/how-to/g52/winterize-home-tips-energy-461008/
https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/11-ways-to-winterize-your-home-on-a-budget-10169