Every year, winter seems to be getting harsher and harsher. There's no better way to get ready for this season than to prepare as much as you can. Check out these four tips on how to winterize your home!
4 DIY Steps On How To Winterize Your Home This Season
Whether we like it or not, winter is here. If you are a homeowner, winter can be especially tough on your wallet: higher energy and fuel bills are unwelcome aspects of the season, as are repairs for frozen pipes and roof damage from snow and the wind. This year, make things a little easier on yourself and your wallet by preparing your home for winter. A few inexpensive preparations before winter can save you a great deal of time and money in the long run.
1. Clean your gutters
Nobody likes to haul out the ladder and clean out the gutters, but it is one of the best projects you can tackle to winterize your home. When water and melted snow can flow through your gutters and downspouts freely, icicles and ice dams have less opportunity to form. When the ice backs up, your attic and roof are at a greater risk of damages and leaks. Be sure to clean out all of the leaves, acorns, branches, and other debris before the first flakes fly this winter.
2. Prepare your heating system
No matter the type of heating system you have, there are steps you can take to help it run more efficiently this winter to save you some cash. Do a quick visual check of your furnace; if you notice any loose panels or parts, signs of dirt or scorching, signs of pest activity, or anything else that causes concern, contact a heating expert to check your system.
If you have filters, change them regularly so the air can flow more freely throughout your home. Clean air filters will increase the efficiency and longevity of your system and lower your energy bills.
Make sure your air ducts are ready to handle heated air by sealing and insulating them, especially if you have central heating. If you do it properly, you can reduce your energy bills by approximately $120. While you’re at it, check your air registers, too. Your air return vents should be closed at the top to keep the higher heated air in circulation, while they should be closed at the bottom to allow the colder air to escape the room. Some families opt to close their air registers in unused rooms, but this can strain your heating system and lower its ability to heat your home. If you do close your registers, be sure not to close more than 30%-40% of them. This is an important step in winterizing your home.
3. Insulate your windows and doors
Regardless how new or old your home is, you may be losing heat around your doors and windows. There are all sorts of DIY fixes you can make to insulate your doors and windows and save on energy bills this winter, including installing rubber weather sealing, window insulation film, cellular shades, layered or insulated curtains, and draft snakes. Sometimes, it helps to add weatherstripping and caulking to plug air leaks. Consider caulking inside and outside your window casing and then installing weatherstripping on the sash to help winterize your home.
4. Close your pool properly
Your home is not the only thing you need to prepare for winter. If you have a swimming pool, it is important that you take the proper steps to close it. While all pools and their needs differ, there are some general steps to take to make sure that you are protecting your pool during the winter months.
About a week before you close the pool, add phosphate remover to reduce algae. After that, brush and vacuum to remove all debris and then reduce your water level. If you live in an area that freezes, balance the pool chemistry, then shock and chlorinate the pool. Don't forget to backwash your filter, drain the pool lines and add antifreeze. Again, if you live where it freezes, install an air pillow, and install a winter cover. To save some money, consider closing the pool yourself rather than contacting a professional pool maintenance service to do it for you.
With a little time, effort, and money spent before winter hits, you can ensure that you have better prepared your home for winter. It certainly is better to be proactive than reactive when it comes to home winterization projects.
Get your plumbing system ready this winter to prevent those frozen pipes. Check out these useful tips from YouTuber JayKay18:
Winter can be a fun, but it won't be for long if you don't start to winterize your home. The ice can be very unforgiving on your gutter, pipes, heating, and plumbing systems. So before it makes a turn for the worse, follow these tips and winter-proof your home right now!
Thanks for reading our post on how to winterize your home this season! Which will you try this winter? Let us know in the comments below!
While you're at it, why don't you work on organizing your winter gear as well? Check out 13 Clever Winter Gear Organization Ideas!
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Featured image via American WSD
Seriously?????
How about SOME REAL Tips??????
Thank you for trying. Two things, One: I agree that these are pretty basic, if you live where this is necessary, you already know these things, and Two:December 5th is too late to start thinking about these things.