the herald
Ready or not, winter is here. You may have experienced freezing temperatures this week. In any case, there is no better time than the present to prepare for the cold season, especially as extreme weather conditions hit the country.
Winterizing your home takes a little effort, but many of the best steps are easy and free. Use these home maintenance tips to create a winter home maintenance checklist to help you spend those cold days warm and cozy.
Check for leaks and drafts
Leaks and drafts from cracks in walls, doors and windows can prevent adequate heating and drive up energy bills. If your energy supplier doesn't offer a home energy audit, do it yourself. Here are some ways to seal leaks and drafts:
Apply caulk, foam, or weatherstripping around serviceable doors and windows.
Use bubble wrap or a window insulation kit to seal windows you won't be using.
Add a storm door to reduce heat loss at the front entrance.
Install insulation in your attic to prevent heat loss from the ceiling.
Replace poorly insulated wooden doors with steel or fiberglass.
Cover mail slots and cat flaps with insulation or thick towels to keep warm air in and cold air out.
Use blackout curtains on your windows, leaving them open during the day to let the sun in and closing them at night to keep the heat in.
Have your chimney checked
Before using your fireplace or wood stove for heating, have the chimney or flue inspected and cleaned by a professional. This step can prevent chimney fires. A blocked chimney or flue can also increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you have a decorative or non-functioning fireplace, you could be losing valuable heat through the open fireplace. Investing in a chimney bell can prevent heat from escaping and cold winter air from entering. Just make sure you remove it if you want to make a fire later.
Have your oven checked
If you have a stove, just like a chimney, you should have it checked annually. If your stove isn't working properly, an early inspection can give you time to buy a new one before winter arrives. You should also consider cleaning your air ducts or cleaning them yourself. Also, be sure to change your oven filters regularly to keep your oven running smoothly.
cover bare ground
Laminate, hardwood, and tile floors look great, but they can cause you to lose heat in winter. As part of your winter home maintenance checklist, consider adding throws or installing rugs on your bare floors to keep your feet warm and prevent heat loss.
ceiling fan
Ceiling fans not only cool in the warm months, but also help in the cold.
Inverted ceiling fan blades
If your home has ceiling fans, consider changing the rotation of the blades depending on the season for best results. For most ceiling fans, the blades should rotate counter-clockwise during the warm months, pushing cool air down. In winter, turning the slats clockwise on the lowest setting can push the warm air in the room up against the ceiling to keep it warm.
Be prepared for winter storms
Keep an eye on the weather so you have plenty of time to prepare if a winter storm hits. Keep your home emergency kit and car ready at all times, and make sure your car maintenance is up to date with a full tank in case you need to go out.
If you don't have a portable generator at home, now might be the time to buy one.
Invest in an easy-to-read thermometer
For the seniors in your life, it's always a good idea to have a large, easy-to-read thermometer in a prime spot around the home. Older people may not feel temperature differences easily, which can lead to serious health problems, especially if they live alone.
Having a thermometer and checking the temperature regularly can help them know when to pack up or if there might be a potential heat loss problem in the home.
get ready for rain
Cold weather can take a toll on your home, and you don't want to have to clean and repair after the winter. Instead, add some basic winter maintenance to your checklist and get them done long before the cold weather hits.
Insulate any exposed pipes to prevent bursting.
Properly insulate walls and ceilings to prevent condensation that can lead to mold growth.
Keep your gutters free of debris that can lower the gutters and damage the roof.
Close outside faucets and water lines, clean and insulate water lines to prevent water from entering your yard.
Pay attention to the lower branches
Trees surrounding your home can seriously damage your home and even cause you to lose electricity. The weight after a storm can cause branches to snap or the whole tree to fall on your home or power lines. Before it rains, have the tree condition checked and remove dead branches or those that could cause serious damage if dropped.
Winterizing your home by completing the winter home maintenance checklist can help you stay warm, prevent damage from cold weather, and insulate your energy bills.
Even when it's scorching hot inside, these tips for exercising outdoors in cold weather can help you enjoy the cool outside. When you're done, you can warm up before heading back to your fire pit - Cnet.com.
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