Winterizing Your Home

  1. Clean Those Gutter — Remove leaves and other debris by hand, scraper or spatula and then give your gutters a good hose rinse.
  2. Block Those Leaks — Find the leaks by holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas. Buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors and caulk drafty spots. Seal exterior leaks with weather-resistant caulk.
  3. Insulate Yourself — Add insulation to the existing insulation in the attic so that you have a minimum of 12 inches on insulation. Don’t use insulation with a “kraft face” finish because it can act as a vapor barrier and can cause moisture problems.
  4. Check the Furnace — Make sure that the thermostat and pilot lights are working properly. The fuel pipe entering the furnace should not have a leak. Check the heat exchanges for cracks and change the filter. Furnaces should be cleaned annually and run about $100-$125.
  5. Get Your Ducts in a Row — A home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well connected and insulated. Look for any ducts exposed in the attic, basement and in crawlspaces.
  6. Face Your Windows — Take down window screens and put up storm windows. Windows can be pricey, so budget to replace a few at a time. In the meantime, a window insulator kit can be extremely effective.
  7. Don’t Forget the Chimney — Make sure you have your chimney inspected to determine if a sweep is necessary. Also, buy a protective cap for your chimney with a screen to keep out foreign objects.
  8. Reverse that Fan — Reversing the fans direction will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate. As you look up, the blades should be turned clockwise.
  9. Wrap Those Pipes — Before freezing nights hit, make sure you leave water dripping so that the still water in the pipes will not freeze and cause them to burst. Wrap pipes that are not insulated with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation.
  10. Check Those Alarms — Check the operation and change the batteries on your home’s smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years.