Winterize Your Home

9/25/2017 (Permalink)

Protect your home from losing heat and energy with these tips from SERVPRO. Keep warm and dry this winter/

1.Replace any old or inefficient windows. Windows are one of the major ways heat leaks out of your house. If your heating bill seems abnormally high, your windows may be a culprit. This is a pricey step in winterization but can be well worth it for a long winter running your furnace. If you haven't budgeted for new windows yet or want to wait for drier weather, you can always seal off drafty windows and patio doors with clear plastic.

2.If your furnace is more than 10 years old, there’s a good chance that it wastes a lot of fuel. Consider upgrading to a newer one. Todays furnaces are more energy efficient and quieter to run than any furnace to date.

3.Try replacing the weather stripping around the doors in your home. This can prevent cold drafts of air in the winter months and keep your home from loosing heat through the exterior doors.

4. Trim any tree branches that are hanging near your home or over your roof. They can bend during a snowstorm or blow and possibly break during a wind or rainstorm.  Depending upon how big the branch is, it could cause serious damage. Get those branches trimmed and away from the roof.

5.Try not to use space heaters to heat large areas of your house. This racks up a pretty big electric bill and wont be very efficient when it comes to heating a large space. If you spend most of your time in one room in a large house, consider setting your thermostat low and using a small heater to heat where you are going to be.

6. Use the oven for baking during colder hours of the day to help heat your home. The best time to bake and use your oven is in the winter when it will heat the house and bring warm air into the kitchen. By using your oven to bake when it is cold you are getting a dual use out of your oven.

7.Keep all closet doors closed when possible. There’s no need to heat space that isn’t in use as long as it doesn’t contain water pipes. Keeping doors closed keeps the heat where you want it.