Like it or not, winter’s blasts will soon be upon us. We bundle up with long underwear, gloves, hats and parkas to keep ourselves warm through the season … do you winterize your own home as well?
While it will be impossible to find a parka large enough for your entire house, there are numerous steps you can take to ensure a much warmer, more comfortable and more cost-effective environment for you and your family. The time to do this is now – before the snow flies.
Begin by walking around your home with a caulking gun. Note any obvious cracks in your home’s exterior and use the caulk to fill. You won’t need much caulk – you may be surprised at how far you can spread just a small bead or two. While you are still outside, wrap up your backyard hose, store this in your garage and turn off that outside tap to prevent freezing pipes. Have you got any broken windows? Replace the glass to prevent cold air from easily entering your home.
Turning your attention to the inside of your home, have your furnace cleaned and serviced if you haven’t done this recently … it’s far preferable to know that your furnace won’t quit when you need it most. Ensure your furnace vents are thoroughly cleaned to allow the hot air to flow through smoothly. Don’t forget to clean out your dryer vent as well – a build-up of lint or an errant sock can easily block air flow.
Place your hand by your refrigerator door. You should not feel cold air escaping. If this is the case, replace your refrigerator door seal to ensure a tighter fit. And, on this same topic, keep your refrigerator well stocked as a full fridge uses less energy than an empty one.
For more tips to keep you and your family snug as a bug at home this winter: realestate.msn.com/article.aspx
