Preparing for Colder Weather

11/4/2021 (Permalink)

insulating your pipes for colder weather

As the days grow shorter and the temperature begins to drop, it’s time to start getting your home prepared for the winter months ahead. Here's a checklist to make sure you’ve got everything all ready for winter!

• Get your furnace checked

A regular checkup for your furnace will extend its life, prevent carbon monoxide leaks and ensure everything is in working order.

• Keep pipes warm

Frozen pipes can burst, which can result in a major disaster. It may require complicated fixes and result in serious flood damage if you’re not careful. To prevent this from happening, don’t completely turn off your heat when you leave the house. Keeping the temperature around 55°F will be enough to ensure pipes stay sufficiently warm.

If you’re going to be gone for an extended period  turn off the water and drain the water pipes.

• Clean Chimney

When you burn wood in your fireplace, there’s a chance you’re creating a buildup of what’s called creosote. This can ignite when you burn wood in the fireplace and cause a dangerous chimney fire. Scheduling an inspection annually will help reduce this risk.

• Check your insulation

Check the seals around your windows and doors. If you find the seals to be lacking, use weather stripping or caulk to seal around the frame. You should also check to see if air is escaping through your outlets. You can purchase foam gasket covers that you insert behind outlet or switch covers.