One of the joys of owning a home – winterizing. Maybe not a “joy”, but certainly a necessity.
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It’s that time of year again – winter is just around the corner. While it brings many things I look forward to, winterizing isn’t on the “hit” list. So, as painlessly as possible consider these tips to help make the winter a little easier on your wallet. Short and long term.
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1: Gutters. Clean them, check for possible leaks, install gutter screen, repair them if needed. Heavy rain can certainly be damaging if your gutters aren’t functioning properly, but ice build-up can be much more devastating. The main reason—ice can remain on your roof for extended periods. As in the picture above, icicles and ice dams can be beautiful—but they can also cause major issues. Several solutions exist which we can explore further in future posts. For now—make sure they are clean and draining properly.
2: Attic insulation and ventilation. Insulation is somewhat obvious—right? Most of the heat loss will occur around the edges of your home. Specifically where the outside walls meet the ceiling. So concentrate on these areas when considering adding insulation. However, it is extremely important that you do not restrict the ventilation to your attic space. This means you should not stuff insulation down into the soffit area. This is another topic that likely deserves its own post. For now, trust me – don’t do it!
3: Weather stripping/caulking. Another relatively obvious point, but often overlooked or done too quickly with limited results. Check around windows and doors, especially at the bottom. One easy way to determine if you have gaps is to check at night with a flashlight. One person inside and one person outside shining the light in all the suspect areas. Your neighbors may think your crazy, maybe they already do, but you will get a much better idea of the areas that need attention.
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Hope these tips help. If you start now, you can have it all done before it gets really cold. Enjoy the winter instead of thinking about that drafty front door.
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Make sure to check your windows, doors, garage door and attic for any leaks or possible ways for air to enter and exit your home. It can have a major impact on your energy usage and heating of your home. Make sure to take proper precautions against frozen pipes as well. Pipes bursting is not a problem that any homeowner wants to deal with.