Five Simple Ways to Winterize Your Home

Five Simple Ways to Winterize Your Home

Once cold air moves in, it doesn’t take long for heating costs to skyrocket and with cold weather around the corner, it is time to prepare and winterize your home. It’s never too early to start, especially as the best time to winterize is when the temperature is above 50 degrees.

There are many quick and easy things you can do to help conserve time, energy and money this winter.

Below are five simple ways to winterize your home.

Step 1
Prepare for freezing temperatures.
• Clean off debris from the roof, gutters and replace loose shingles.
• Ice and snow can weigh down branches, so be sure to remove any that are hanging too close to the house.
• In addition, pipes can freeze in extremely cold weather, which can cause them to rupture. Use an insulating pipe wrap on pipes to keep them functioning in freezing temperatures.

Step 2
Perform draft tests.
• Drafts can enter a house at a variety of locations. Performing a few simple tests to determine where drafts are entering the home can make a big difference. If a thin piece of cardboard can fit underneath a closed door, heat may be escaping, costing you money.
• To identify trouble spots, wet your finger and move it along the area in question to feel for drafts, or shine a bright flashlight around these areas to see if light shines through.
• Check wall joints, light fixtures, electrical outlets, window and door frames to interior walls, attic doors and ceilings, and plumbing penetrations.

Step 3 
Seal off air leaks.
• Installing additional insulation or window replacements to conserve energy can prove to be expensive and time-consuming.
• For a quick fix, use weather-stripping to fill gaps and minimize air infiltration.

Step 4
Check your heating system.
• Have a routine check done by a heating professional before the cold weather sets in.
• Vacuum vents and replace furnace filters if needed.
• If you use a fireplace as an alternative heating method, be sure to have it inspected and cleaned for proper efficiency or unsafe conditions.

Step 5
Insulate windows. Check windows and doors for drafts and efficiency.
• Unknowingly, about 30 percent of a home’s heat escapes through small cracks and holes around windows and under doors. This can translate into a 50-75 percent increase in fuel bills.
• One inexpensive and effective way to insulate is a roll-on window insulation kit, which is easy to install and covers your windows with a transparent film to help keep warm air inside and cold air out. Try window kits, they fit to a variety of window sizes and require no measuring and minimal cutting.

Once the temperatures start dropping, you’ll be glad you performed these quick and easy procedures to help winterize your home. Not only will you save time and money, but your house will feel more comfortable, as well.

Helpful information for Homeowners – Cape Cod Home Inspector – Scott Hunt – SEASIDE HOME INSPECTION offering home inspections on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Southeastern Massachusetts