It’s almost time to shut all those windows again and prepare for the arrival of Old Man Winter. While the cold weather will force more time indoors, there is no reason that you can’t be comfortable and save money on your energy bills. With some simple preparations during the fall months, you can ready your home for the harsh winter elements then simply cozy up by the fireplace and ride out the snow!

The first and possibly most important winter preparation for your home is insulation. Check the insulation in your attic – homes lose a ton of heat through roofs that are not properly insulated. You need at least 12 inches of insulation in your attic to help hold all of that precious heat in. A typical ceiling joist is 10 to 11 inches deep so use this as your ruler. If you can see your ceiling joists, you probably don’t have enough insulation. If you decide to install the insulation yourself, make sure you take the necessary safety precautions. Wear a mask, safety goggles and gloves along with long sleeves and pants. The fiberglass is not something you want to be getting off your skin later. Also check the insulation around all of your windows and vents. Make sure there are no obvious gaps and fill them if found. It also doesn’t hurt to re-caulk all of your windows just to be sure you aren’t losing heat through drafty windows.

The second place to turn your attention before winter sets in is to your fireplace. The least expensive time of year (and slowest) to have your chimney swept is during the spring. However, if you plan on using your fireplace at all during the winter months, make that appointment as soon as possible. If you make sure your chimney is free and clear, you can rest assured every time you light that match that you won’t have any problems. Also, make sure your chimney has a good cap on it. A good cap will keep out birds and other animals along with rain that can damage the inside of your chimney. When you have your chimney swept, make sure they check the damper as well. If the damper works properly, keep it closed when the fireplace is not in use and you will let in the cold air.

Another area where you can do some inexpensive preparations that could save you big bucks is with your pipes. Walk through your home and make sure any exposed pipes are insulated. Don’t forget about any hose spickets you have on the outside of your home. You can buy Styrofoam caps to put over them for only a couple dollars. If you have any areas of your home that are not insulated like a basement or crawl space, check the pipes there. If there are exposed pipes, cover them with Styrofoam insulation. You can purchase pre-slit pipe insulation from the hardware store that you can simple wrap around the pipe. This precaution will be a lot cheaper than if you were to have a pipe freeze then burst.

Once the cold weather really sets in, you don’t want to be caught off guard with a furnace or heat pump that is not working. Go ahead and turn it on now and take it for a test run. When it kicks on, you might smell the heat but it should go away after a minute or two. If the smell continues, call your repair company as there is most likely a problem. Change out your filter so your system is ready to go. It also isn’t a bad idea to have the repair company come out and do a check – just to make sure everything looks good for the coming months.

Finally, go outside and check your gutters. With all of those leaves falling, your gutters will need a major clean out before winter sets in. If your gutters are clogged up with leaves and debris, it can cause issues when it starts to snow and ice. Clogged gutters can cause the snow to freeze up, causing blockages and possibly allow the water to leak into your home. Rinse the gutters out with a hose and check for any leaks as you do so. All of these simple preparations can help ensure that you have a smooth winter where you can remain comfortable inside your home and even save some money!

Author Bio: Keith Smallwood is the president of Creative Energy Exteriors, a leading Richmond home improvement company offering Richmond replacement windows, Richmond storm doors, and other products and services. Creative Energy Exteriors can be found online at: CreativeEnergyExteriors.com .

Category: Home Management
Keywords: winterizing your home, winterize, your ome in winger, cold weather, furnace, heat pump