Everything You Need to Keep Your Home Safe

Tackling your home winterizing checklist has never been easier. Here are a few preventative measures to keep you and your loved ones warm during this bitter winter! With this easy home project, you’ll be able to safe tons of money on home energy bills, and likely thousands in damage from the cold. Who doesn’t love saving extra cash for holiday shopping?

It’s always better to start your winterizing project a bit early before the first frost. Rather than waiting for temperatures to plummet, start winterizing in the fall, it’s easiest that way. Of course you would rather do the tips when the temperature is manageable, than doing everything with numb fingers!

1. Winterize Your Pipes

This is the most important step of them all, I recommend doing this tip first before all others. Water expands when it freezes, so any water left over in your pipes, when it reaches below 32°F, your pipes can crack and burst. Before the extreme cold sets in, stop by your local hardware store and pick up pipe insulation. Pipes outside and in your garage are the most vulnerable to freezing and damage, so make sure you start these tips early! The pipes outside your home like garden hoses and sprinklers can be disconnected and flushed out.

2. Replace Seals

A great and affordable way to stay energy efficient is to inspect and replace any damaged door and window seals. Old and damaged seals easily allow warm air to escape, and cold air to draft in. They are extremely simple and cost effective as well, replacing every couple years to ensure the seal maintains it’s flexibility and stops air from escaping. Seals for your garage door should also be swapped out. By keeping warm air in, and critters out.

3. Add Insulation

Unfortunately, most homes aren’t equipped with the proper amount of insulation. In order to keep the heat in your home you need to add insulation. As heat rises it escapes through the attic, and out through your shingles. Uninsulated attics can also damage your roof by creating ice dams. Other than through your attic, gaps between the trim on doors and windows often don’t have insulation. If you’re doing renovations, or it’s a new construction, spray some insulation foam in between the gaps in your trim.

4. Check the Gutters

Before winter rolls around it’s recommended to check your gutters and remove any dirt and debris that remain.  As snow melts, it drains into your gutters and away from your home. But when your gutters are clogged, it doesn’t allow for proper drainage and restricts water from safely vacating. If you ignore cleaning your gutters, ice build up will occur creating ice dams. Ice dams is a ridge of ice that remains on the edge of your roof and doesn’t allow water to drain. The water can backup into the home, and damage sheathing, insulation, and other areas. 

5. Run Fans Counterclockwise

Did you know that you can change the direction your fan moves? Most ceiling fans have a switch located near the blades that will allow the fan blades to spin counter clockwise. This will allow your fan to create an updraft and pickup warm air and spread it around your home. It is a great, and FREE energy efficient tool so you can use less energy and firewood to heat your home! 

TYLER CLARK

Tyler is a Realtor®, founder and CEO. Licensed in the state of Montana, Tyler is an expert of his craft. Specialized in marketing, Tyler has developed a platform to put his properties in front of more people than anyone else.

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