We’ve already experienced some of winter’s frigid temperatures, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to winterize your home. Keep your family safe and warm, and possibly save some money on your utility bills by completing our list of 10 helpful tips.
Winterizing Your Home Tips
- Drain exteriors hoses and turn off spigots. Turn off sprinkler systems and blow compressed air into the lines to purge any water.
- Ensure that your gutters are clear of debris and make sure that all downspouts are positioned away from your foundation.
- Close crawl space vents.
- Protect your pipes from freezing by insulating exposed pipes in crawlspaces, attics, and outside walls. When it’s brutally cold, open your cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around sink piping.
- Check windows and doors for drafts. Add caulking and weather-stripping where needed. For drafty windows, consider adding plastic window insulation. A rolled towel or draft pillow can cut cold air sneaking in under a door. If you find you have significant draft issues, you may want to consider installing new windows and doors.
- Change or replace your furnace filter monthly during the winter months.
- Reduce your water heater temperature to 120 degrees.
- Reset humidifiers to 35-45 percent, lower to 20 percent when temperatures are in the single digits.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Set heating schedules at lower temperatures when away from home or at night.
- Reverse the rotation on all your ceiling fans. This will aid in circulating warmer air downwards into your living space.
We hope you find our tips useful. Once you’ve completed this list, you can relax and enjoy a cozy evening with the family around the fireplace or watching a movie together!
