The heat and humidity of summer is over, the fall and winter clothes are out of storage and you’re ready for the approaching winter˳ But is your house ready?
There are a few inexpensive things you can do to keep winter weather outside and stay cozy inside˳
First and probably most important is to have your furnace checked for damage and operating efficiency˳ Don’t wait until the first sub-zero snap to discover your heating system needs help˳
Once you know your furnace or heat pump is in top condition the next step is to look and listen to your house˳ A careful eye and a well-tuned ear can guide you to what needs attention˳ Also, try to recall those areas that seemed colder than normal last year˳ Ask family members if they remember the house being cold last winter, and, if so, where˳
Here are some places to look and steps you can take to remedy the situation:
o Change your ceiling fan switches to rotate counter-clockwise˳ This pulls the warmer air down into the living room˳
o Install foam gaskets on all your exterior wall outlets, light switches and receptacles˳ This prevents air/wind leaks from competing with your furnace˳ Be sure to turn off the electricity at the breaker box before installing the gaskets˳
o Caulk around all your exterior door trim and windows˳ While you’re at the doors check to see if they need new weather-stripping˳
o Wrap your water pipes˳ Water breaks are never any fun, but they’re especially bad in cold weather˳
o Vacuum air vents, baseboard heaters and radiators to remove the dust that reduces heating efficiency˳
o Check your attic, attached garage walls and basement to be sure you have adequate insulation˳
o Check any exposed heating ducts for loose joints and leaks˳ If you find any, seal the problem area with duct tape˳
All these tips can also lower your winter heating bill˳ Every degree above 70 degrees can increase your heating costs by 3 to 5 percent˳ The more winter weather you can keep outside the house, the more efficiently your heating system will operate˳
Now you’re ready˳ Put on the parka, stocking cap and mittens and go outside and enjoy the beauty of winter˳ Your house will be toasty warm when you return for the hot chocolate˳
Source by https://ezinearticles˳com/?Seal-Your-Home-to-Keep-Heat-In&id=86124
