If the chilly nights we’ve had lately have you thinking about winter, you’re not alone. Things are definitely cooling off in Southwest Ohio, and if you haven’t taken any steps to winterize your home, now is the time. Follow these simple winterizing tips to keep your house snug and warm this winter.
- Get your furnace ready. Fall is the best time to schedule your furnace for annual maintenance. You can also improve its performance by changing the air filter, and continuing to do so about once a month throughout the heating season.
- Look for leaks. Air leaks in your home’s envelope can cause a lot of heat loss, making it more difficult and more expensive to keep your house warm. To find leaks, light a stick of incense on a breezy day and check likely spots along the inside perimeter for leaks. The smoke from the incense will waver in areas with leaks. Common leak locations include window and door frames, electric outlets, joints, vents, and anywhere pipes or wiring enters the house. Places where building materials meet also are common leak areas. Once found, you can seal leaks with caulk, spray foam or weatherstripping, depending on the leak.
- Insulate your pipes. To guard against frozen pipes, add a layer of insulation to exposed plumbing in unconditioned spaces like the attic, basement, garage or crawl space.
- Check on air ducts. Leaky air ducts can be an enormous drain on heating efficiency, and can send your winter energy bills through the roof. If your ducts are accessible, inspect them for cracks, tears, dents, rust and loose connections. Seal them with duct mastic or quality metal-backed tape. If you can’t get to your ducts, contact a professional for an inspection.
- Ready your chimney. Have your chimney cleaned and inspected for creosote buildup before you light the first fire of the season.
- Unclog the gutters. Once the leaves are off the trees, or periodically if you have lots of overhanging branches, it’s time to clean out your gutters to make sure water flows through them easily. This will reduce the likelihood of roof leaks and ice dams during winter.
For more winterizing tips, or to schedule a service appointment, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services today. We’re proud to offer expert service throughout the Dayton-Springfield area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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