Winter is one of those home improvement projects, many people fear. It's not like painting the dining room where you will be rewarded with a new look for your dinner party, or planting a garden, where in spring and summer flowers are all interesting. This is an extension that can not be seen - but that does not mean it is less important. This makes your warmer and comfortable home to reduce your carbon footprint, and best of all, improving profitability by saving on energy costs and keep your home in good condition.

"A house is well equipped and well maintained shows, if you sell," said Christina Hoffmann, Head of Content for HouseLogic.com , a site of the National Association of Realtors . "If your home is well maintained, some experts believe could see their value, up to 10 percent decline."

A good first step is an energy balance of the house, in which a professional technician will come to your home and examined obtain insulation, check the furnace and ducts, and in some cases the use of special tools - such as an infrared camera that "sees" the interior walls and a "blower door", which shows that cold air sneak -. will tell you what is needed, free energy are estimates of program state masses Save ( www.masssave.com , 866-527-7283), which also offer discounts of up to $ 2,000 in improvements approved insulation separated promotions in equipment and qualification of investments, financing and interest to pay for the work you have done to help.

But if you have or not an energy audit, there is much to do to prepare for the winter - much easier DIY part.

Case Cleanup

"Close attention to spring cleaning Turns" Hoffmann "he said, spring cleaning is great. But we believe that the fall cleanup is even more important because you are in search of six months, when the house closed. So you want a good quality of air and to have a healthy environment. "

She recommends using the usual basic cleaning will under furniture, the capture vacuum "all sorts of things," and sometimes overlooked dust horizontal surfaces such as the tops of the artwork, mirrors, kitchen cabinets, doors and smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (and while you're at it, change the batteries!). Dusting lamps also benefit not only the air quality, but the quality of light, lighting up to 30 percent, according to the United States Department of Energy .

Airtightness and isolate

According to the DOE projects on the energy consumption by 5 to 30 percent can increase per year. "The most important thing you can do is press your home and isolate" said Dave Boettcher, director of operations for the next phase of life , a provider of energy solutions of the house which also estimates. "Filling the gaps and cracks with the dough, so that the air in your home and in your attic," he said. "Make a stop at home," keep warm air and cold air outside.

There are two types of air leaks. The first drives in which the heat transfer through the drywall and the second is convection, in which leaks out of the house - to baseboards, moldings, window frames outlets, plumbing and electrical penetrations, and holes in the by hanging pictures caused wall - on the attic. "Insulation keeps the heat loss by conduction," he said, "and to stop convection against oppression. Sockets Caulk and cutting, blanking plug, sealing leaks hidden attic air ... all contribute to a seal between the living room and the attic. "You can do some of these things yourself, but to seal the attic, you probably want a professional who do not mind getting dirty to rent and knows the corresponding technologies and the amount of movement, good for air quality.

Properly insulating the attic air sealing and has the added advantage of avoiding the accumulation of ice ridges that form the edge of the deck and keep the snow melt to correct, so that secure it and seep into the walls, ceilings and insulation.

Insulation and air sealing the basement is also a "wise," said Hooper. And while you're at it, close the taps in the open air and insulate the pipes freeze and burst to prevent. This patch, which costs less than 50 cents per linear foot of pipe, you may be able to save $ 5,000 or more in damage, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety . Water damage and freezing, according to the Institute, are among the greatest threats to the property when the temperature drops, representing almost 22 percent of the application owners. More than a third of the failures occur, frozen pipes in the basement. If you tubes in closets or cabinets have doors on very cold open to increase the circulation of heated air.

Out

Take a walk around your house. Verify that the shutters, siding and other exterior materials are safe. "The high winds, ice and moisture-free external elements strips," Hoffmann said. Cut trees and shrubs, borders the house and can damage the liner; Gaps in your home, protect the skin, can allow moisture. "The number one enemy of the house is water .... It is fatal time," he said. Once the structure elements are wet rot, mildew and pests can follow. Hoffmann also recommends the use of your paycheck fall to ensure that the soil around your home properly assessed and water is not accumulate anywhere near the foundation.

Jim Gustin, senior specialist ownership / control of risks in the Travelers Insurance in Hartford based, said now is a good time to tighten the unstable handrails and check uneven pavement on sidewalks and driveways that are more dangerous when there is snow. Finally, if you have a bridge, looking down as part of the structural problems and see where it joins the rest of your house. "If there are problems," Gustin said, "especially with a lot of snow, you can collapse a bridge, and he was able to get away from the house or remove the coating."

Ceiling

According to the Insurance Information Institute , winter storms are the third most common cause of catastrophic losses to the owners, just behind hurricanes and tornadoes, and from 1980 to 2013 was the North of nine of the ten most expensive US winter hit "Events" insured ranked damages. One of the most important steps you can take to avoid them is to take care of your roof.

Check the trees hanging over all structures on your property and where to park the car. Dead branches may fall during warmer weather; are particularly susceptible to wind and cause serious damage to roofs. "Also, check the small branches," Gustin said. "The leaves fall on the roof and small branches can clog drains."

Take the time to clean the gutters, when most of the trees are bare, he said, you may experience headache later. "The extra weight adds rubble drains they can get out of the house or cause leaks inside." Make one or two entrepreneurs - against unscrupulous protection get more than one opinion - on the roof to ensure that the flashing around dormers and chimney are in good condition and see shingles or tiles, damage and dents from hail or ice over lack of dams years. "Something like that which cover the most vulnerable," Gustin said.

Be prepared

Change the filter for heating, ventilation and air conditioning every 60 days, and to ensure that the technical energy audit or other specialists to read furnace, oil tank or vessel before the season starts. "You do not want to stay on day 5 below without heating," Hooper said, "because you take a quick decision and end up with a suboptimal system will continue with the next 20 years."

Service every team in the cold season, when snow thrower and generator before you need it, too. If you have not already, go buy a rake roof ($ 40), shovels (just under $ 10), and a number of containers of melting ice safety belt (about $ 17 for 8 pounds); Do not wait until it's a run on the Sunday afternoon before the storm.

And do not forget the little things that can really add up: change the direction of ceiling fans for warm air to flow to the area. Make sure the windows sealed properly integrated in the framework. Install a programmable thermostat, refuse not to have remembered. Cover the old window with an additional layer of thin clear plastic - available in hardware stores (about $ 5 to two windows 3 of 5 feet cover) and easy to use - an additional buffer against the cold winds create. Drain pipes and eliminate air conditioning window units. Joints in basement heating pipes with metal band (around $ 8) and consider the pipes fiberglass insulation (just $ 37 for 60 square meters). Please clean the chimney or flue gas leaks.

Finally, when the first flakes begin to fall delicate, a fire, a hot toddy is done, put your feet up and enjoy. You deserve it.

Elizabeth Gehrman writes frequently Globo. Send comments to Address@globe.com