Preparing your home for winter can be challenging, especially if you live in an area that regularly experiences frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall. But with the right planning and preparation, you can ensure that your home is ready to handle whatever winter throws. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Install Programmable Thermostat
Thanks to technology, there are modern thermostats that you can now install in your home. This will help you save on energy costs as you can program the thermostat only to heat your home when necessary. You should also ensure that your heating system is serviced before winter to avoid any breakdowns when you need it the most.
When buying these devices, it’s essential to check their features and see if they can be easily installed. Also, read the user manual to understand how to use them properly.
Prepare Your Pipes
Water expands when it freezes, so pipes are vulnerable to freezing and bursting during winter. To prevent this from happening, you need to insulate your pipes properly. This is especially true for exposed pipes in the attic, crawl spaces, and garage.
If you’re not sure how to do this, you can always hire a professional plumber to do it for you. In addition, you should also let your faucets drip a little during cold nights to prevent your pipes from freezing. The team at https://heatauthority.com/blogs/news/tips-on-freeze-protection-for-pipes explain that freeze protection for pipes is vital to prevent costly repairs. To keep the faucets running, you can attach a hose to the outdoor faucet and let the water drip into a bucket. A good team will advise you on the best ways to protect your pipes against freezing.
Insulate Your Home
As a homeowner, use every opportunity to conserve warmth in your home. This means you need to insulate the attic, walls, and floors to reduce heat loss in your home. You can use weather-stripping around doors and windows to further increase insulation in your home.
Depending on your location, you may want to consider storm windows as they offer an extra layer of protection against cold weather. In addition, you should also caulk any cracks or gaps that may be present in your home, as they can let in cold air.
Reverse the Ceiling Fans
Most people only think about using ceiling fans when it’s hot outside. However, you can use them to push the warm air that rises to the ceiling back into the room. All you have to do is reverse the direction of the blades so that they rotate clockwise instead of counter-clockwise.
Alternatively, you can also use a floor fan to do the same thing. Place the fan in the corner of the room and aim it upwards to push the warm air back down. In general, this air distribution will also help even the temperature in your home.
Preparing your home for winter doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Following the tips above, you can easily prepare your home for the cold weather. This will help you avoid costly repairs and keep your family warm all winter.