Winter is a great time for the family to come together and enjoy each other’s company. But it can also be a stressful season, especially if you don’t prepare your home for it properly. The following tips will help you prepare your house for winter and ensure everyone stays warm and safe through the cold, snowy months ahead.
Prepare Your Home for the Winter
So, what is the best way to prepare your home for the winter?
It’s no secret that winter is coming. It’s already here in some regions of the U.S., and if you live outside of California, chances are it’s been cold enough to wear a jacket or even a scarf—and if you live in New York City, there may be snow on the ground already. If your area hasn’t seen any winter weather yet this year, but you’re getting ready anyway because it feels like it might never stop snowing from now until forever (or until spring arrives), then read on! We’ll talk about how long it takes to prepare your home for the winter—and why doing so is so important!
Check for Air Leaks and Insulate the Interior
To ensure your home is as energy-efficient as possible, take the time to assess your insulation levels. If there are any gaps in the walls, ceilings, or floors, consider adding a layer of insulation.
Another way to help insulate your home is with a programmable thermostat. You can set these devices to adjust the temperature based on your schedule and location automatically. They also allow you to control heating costs while keeping up with environmental standards by limiting how high temperatures should be allowed to rise within each room or zone of the house when heaters are switched on during colder months.
This technique works particularly well if you live somewhere with extremely low winter temperatures (such as Canada). It’s easy enough for anyone who knows how a thermostat works – remember that turning down the knob doesn’t mean turning off the power source!
If the Outside Water Line Is Exposed, Insulate It
Use foam insulation to wrap the pipe. If you have time, this is a good option because the foam will harden around the pipe, creating an extra layer of protection against freezing temperatures.
You can also use insulation tape in strips or spirals around the pipe. Be sure to overlap each strip so there aren’t any gaps between them that could allow cold air to get in and freeze your pipes.
Heat tape can be used as an additional form of protection if necessary. However, heat tape should only be used with other insulation methods, such as wrapping with foam or taping strips along your pipes.
Inspect Your Furnace Equipment
The furnace equipment is the heart of your home’s heating system. The proper maintenance of this equipment can help your home stay warm and comfortable throughout the winter.
Check the furnace filter. If you have a HEPA filter, ensure it’s clean and has been changed since last year. A dirty or clogged air filter will reduce airflow, which reduces efficiency, wastes energy, and increases heating costs by up to 30%.
Check the blower motor. Blower motors need to be checked annually because they’re often overlooked when performing routine furnaces maintenance. This is due to their location inside wall cavities or at ceiling level, where they’re hard to reach without specialized equipment.
Check thermostat settings. Set a temperature range according to how cold temperatures will get during winter months based upon average low temperatures recorded over the past few years of weather data available online (unless you live somewhere like southern Florida where climate hardly ever changes).
Consider Replacing Your Windows with Energy-Efficient Windows
One of the most important parts of your home is the windows. They protect you from the elements, but they also help determine how much heat or air conditioning you need to use inside your house.
You must remember that windows have a lifespan and need to be replaced every 20 years. Even if your current windows are still in good condition, replacing them will increase their efficiency and save you money on heating costs during wintertime.
If you’re going to replace all of your windows, for example, with energy-efficient ones, it’s a great investment because these types of products can save up to 40% on heating costs during wintertime!
Conclusion
We hope that you have found our guide on how to prepare your home for the winter useful. We’ve taken time out of our busy days to share some of the best tips and tricks in preparing your home for the coldest months of the year. Please feel free to browse all of the house makeover tips we have prepared for you!