With the first snowflake waiting on the horizon, the nights begin to feel longer. Meaning it’s time to prepare your home for the winter months. Frigid temperatures, arctic winds blowing in from the north, sleet, snow, and ice are right around the corner, and your house needs to be more ready than ever if it wants to make it to spring.
Winterize your home before the snow hits, you’ll not only stay cozy all winter long, but you’ll also have the advantage of saving on energy costs and bringing down the price of your heating bills.
Unsure where to begin? Here are just a few affordable ways to prep your home for winter at this very moment.
Change Furnace Filters
Changing your current furnace filter every few months throughout the winter is essential. A clogged or dirty filter decreases quality airflow and dramatically changes the efficiency of the furnace.
Add a Cushion of Insulation
The most effective use for insulation would be in the attic.
Unfortunately, most homes don’t have the luxury of hand-cut pieces of insulation sitting on the roof, if not anything, up there as added protection from the freezing temperatures. According to professionals, an attic should have a minimum of thin layered R-38 insulation, typically around 10 and 14 inches in width.
It’s always been said that a properly insulated attic floor will help to prevent any hot air from the lower rooms from flowing into the attic space.
Install an Adjustable Thermostat
If you live in a family who likes to keep a regular schedule, meaning coming and going as they please, it would be nice to have a device that can somewhat regulate the house’s temperature throughout the day in a way that saves money.
Installing a thermostat that you can adjust with a push of a button is a great way to ensure the house stays warm when you’re home and conserves energy and heat by lowering itself during the day.
Checklist
Here are another few key features to take into consideration when deciding how you are going to winterize your home this winter season:
Perform a Roof Inspection
Checking your roof to make sure your shingles are in good shape and intact will make a big difference in how your house decides to age. Considering clearing your gutters or downspouts also ensures there is minor rainwater damage from occurring.
It’s been said that if a loose shingle is spotted, house owners should apply roof repair glue to help avoid any leaks from getting into the home’s interior.
Turn off Any Exterior Faucets
By turning off any exterior faucets, you are beginning the process of draining water from all those pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads that sit outdoors to help prevent the case of pipe bursts.
If your home is aged and has been standing for ten years or even longer, it might be time to consider installing some frost-proof faucets.
Install Roof Heating Cables
Roof heating cables are meant to help avoid any long-term damage occurring from frozen temperatures and ice build-up.
Before starting the process of installing the cables, make sure your eavestroughs and roof have been cleaned thoroughly to ensure no debris is within the cable area.
Still unsure where to go from here? Don’t fret; Vanity Roofing is a great contractor who is available to help with all your roofing needs.
