How to Prep Your Home for Winter
It looks like winter is finally hitting Michigan and soon enough we’ll have snow on the ground for a few months. Whether you enjoy winter or would rather go south for the season, getting your home ready for winter is an important thing to do before the weather gets extreme. This can help keep your home safe from freezing temperatures and ensures you’ll be warm and cozy all winter long. Here are our home preparation tips for winter and how to conserve energy while doing it.
GET A FURNACE TUNE-UP
If you haven’t yet, you should get your furnace checked before you start running it. By contacting an HVAC professional to tune up your furnace, they will clean it and make sure it’s running safely and smoothly. You may also need to change the filter if it’s dirty, so your furnace can properly filter out debris in the air. This also helps you save energy and keep your furnace running longer because it isn’t working as hard to heat your home.
INVEST IN ECO-FRIENDLY INSULATION
A properly insulated home is an energy-efficient home. If your home feels cold and drafty, insulation is a permanent fix that also helps you save energy. Insulation stops heat from escaping your home during the winter which helps reduce the energy you use to heat your home. Some typical spots you may need some more insulation include attics, basements, bonus rooms and more. Spray foam and cellulose insulation are both eco-friendly options that offer a better fit and performance than normal fiberglass insulation.
PROTECT YOUR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT
If you have an outdoor air conditioning unit, you’ll need to make sure it’s shut down and protected from the elements before the winter weather sets in. You can turn off the power supply to the unit to prevent anyone from accidentally switching it on. One of the most important steps is to clean away any debris on the unit and trim back bushes that may have grown close to the unit.
PREVENT YOUR PIPES FROM FREEZING
Frozen pipes can lead to a pipe burst and flooding, which spells disaster for your home. Always have your heat on in the winter, even if you’re away. When you do have the heat on, don’t set it below 55 degrees. You may have heard of temporary fixes like leaving cabinet doors open or letting your faucets drip. For a permanent solution, have a professional install more insulation near your pipes, especially in crawlspaces and attics. You can also have your pipes themselves fitted with insulation sleeves.
SEAL YOUR DRAFTY WINDOWS AND DOORS
Drafts make your home feel uncomfortable and you’re using more energy to replace the heat that escapes through your drafty windows and doors. While windows and doors are the most visible areas where outside air can get into your home, it’s also important to seal gaps in the construction of your home. You might think drafty windows means you have to replace your windows completely. Air sealing with a professional-grade caulk is a permanent, energy-efficient solution to keeping the warm air inside your home.
Winter is coming, and your home needs to be ready for it. Ecotelligent Homes can start getting your home ready for winter with an energy audit. This will help you identify the areas where you are losing heat, wasting energy and what type of improvements can be installed to help you improve your home’s comfort.