Home improvement tips for winterizing your home

Winter is creeping up fast and there’s a lot to be done in and around the house to make sure it’s ready. Here are a few things you should be doing to winterize your home this fall.

Weatherize your windows and doors

If you can feel a draft when you place your hand near your doors and windows, then cold air is getting in and warm air is getting out. That’s going to strain your heating system and cost you a lot in heating costs so that’s a top concern.

Purchase weather strips for your doorways and insulation kits or weather sealing tape to go around the windows to make them airtight.

Seal up any other gaps

Though doors and windows are the most common culprits, they aren’t the only ones. It’s a good idea to turn on all the lights inside, and do a walk-around at night looking for any light shining through to the outdoors. If there’s a gap where light is getting through, you can bet air is getting through as well. There are spray foams or caulk that you can use to fill in any gaps. Not only will this keep your warm air in but it will prevent rodents looking for a warm place to wait out the winter from getting in your home as well.

Inspect your roof

Warm air can also be escaping through your roof so if it’s been a while since you’ve had a roof inspection, now is a good time for one. The roofer will look for any gaps in the flashing or any cracked or curling shingles that might allow cold air or moisture in. Take care of any needed roof repairs promptly. It might also be a good idea to redo the attic insulation as this will not only keep heating costs down but it can prevent ice dams in the winter as well.

Have your heating system inspected

It’s a good idea to have your furnace looked at occasionally. If it needs a new filter, replace it. If you’re registers have been closed during the warmer months, make sure they’re opened up as closed registers could cause a furnace to overheat not to mention you won’t get good warm airflow throughout your home when your furnace is running.

If you’ve got a baseboard heating system you may want to replace your baseboard radiator covers to maximize airflow and efficiency.

Finally, have your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors checked out as well. It’s unlikely you’ll have any problems but it’s always a good idea to play it safe.

Prep your yard

Most homeowners don’t worry about their yards until spring but by then there might be irreparable damage. When most or all of the leaves have fallen for the season, rake them all up. The combined weight of a thick covering of leaves and snow can kill your grass. Fall is also the ideal time to spray weeds since they’ll take the chemical deeper into its root system this time of year and it will be more effective at killing them. It’s also a good time to fertilize your lawn so that your grass will get a jumpstart growing back when spring arrives.

Source: Globe Gazette

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