Keep your home warm, cozy with this homeowner’s checklist
Now that fall is here, there’s no better time to prepare your house for winter.
Ryan Passow, a local remodeler and handyman, offered some advice on how to keep your home warmer during the colder months.
“The main thing for winter is any type of insulating,” Passow said. “Caulking joints and making sure that windows are sealed. Any gaps in the foundation are spray foamed or caulk sealed.”
The gaps that allow cold air to enter your house also allow warm air to escape, Passow said.
“Doors and windows, that’s the biggest thing,” Passow said. “Make sure your door has a good weather strip around where it closes and make sure that the weather strip is in good condition. Make sure that the door closes tight.”
Here are more tips from Passow:
? Check and make sure the furnace is operational and clean. Make sure the filters are clean and the return air vents are clean. “People put their furniture in front of the them and cover them up and don’t keep them clean,” Passow said. “It’s important to keep the air moving and clean.”
? Clean the vents with a vacuum and a bristle brush. Dusting the vents pushes the dust back into the vent.
? Install storm doors and storm windows if the home doesn’t have double-paned windows.
? It’s a good time to check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
? Check to see if there is proper insulation in the attic, basement and outside walls.
? Check the fireplace. If it’s not going to be used this winter, make sure the damper is closed.
? Change the rotation of your ceiling fan. “The way I remember it is I think of my car,” Passow said. “In the summer you want the air blowing on you. In the winter you want it blowing up on the windshield.” By setting your fan to pull air upward in the winter, it pushes the warmer air near the ceiling to the floor.
? Don’t use the vent over your stove in the winter. Keep the heat in the house instead of sucking it outside.
? Make sure the gutters are clean of leaves and dirt before the snow and ice starts falling.
? This time of year is a good time to trim the trees back and make sure they aren’t heavy.
? Turn your thermostat down at night. A programmable thermostat is always good in the winter. “Everybody is different at what they are comfortable at, but turn the thermostat down at night,” Passow said. “Throw an extra blanket on the bed, put on
a sweatshirt.”
And when all else fails and you’re still cold?
“It’s sounds funny,” Passow said, “but buy thicker socks.”
Ann Williamson can be reached
http://cjonline.com/
http://furnasmanonehourfurnace.ca/
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