Tips for Winterizing Your Home
August 17, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
The end of the summer is quickly approaching and with that are those long summer nights…the type of nights where the heat pump runs all night long trying to keep up. Well, the good old heat pump is about to get a break for a few weeks until those cold autumn winds start to blow.
I know it sounds funny, but summer is the best time to winterize your home. WHY?: You can schedule your contractor/handyman before the demand rises and his/her schedule is open a month or so in advance. Just as lawnmowers and outdoor furniture on going on sale, heaters, furnances, and other seasonal items will most likely go up. Adding insulation and sealing cracks will not only serve you n the cold months…it will help keep you cool until those autumn wind begin to blow
Here are some of the easy DIY tips for winterizing your home:
- Inspect the exterior of your home. Check the roof, the gutters, the facia boards, siding, and foundation. How does it look….clean, rotted, any cracks? Make a list and get this work done while it’s still warm outside.
- Seal/weatherstrip doors and windows. Also check any spaces under your doors. Install door sweeps if needed.
- Clean HVAC filters, ducts, coils and furnaces/chimneys. Have your HVAC equipment serviced…this is the equavilant of having a tune-up on your car.
- Insulate. Adding proper insulation to attics, walls, and floors can help those bare toes from feeling winter’s bitter bite on those cold mornings.
- Don’t forget to drain that hose bib and disconnect the hose.
Some of the above items can be handled by the least experrenced DIY’r, but the services and cleaning of your home’s mechanical systems should be left to the professional.
Call you contractor today about any of these projects you might need to get started in the next two months. If you aren’t sure if something need to be fixed or replaced, take a picture and e-mail it to your contractor/handyman….he/she doesn’t have an e-mail?….Send your questions and pictures here and we’ll try our best to help you out.
About Shawn Van Dyke