A warm home makes for a happy season, and heating is likely to be your single biggest energy expense all winter long. So take steps to make sure the warm air stays inside where it belongs. Insulation is key to keeping your home cozy through the winter. Be sure you’re insulating your exterior pipes, and also check all of your doors and windows for any gaps and add weatherstripping where it’s necessary. Even a small gap can lose a lot of heat.
You can take it a step further by bringing in a pro to add more insulation. This will help keep the warm air inside, leading to a more comfortable, eco-friendly winter season. Check your attic to make sure you have enough insulation. Poorly insulated attics can lead to ice dams and damaging freezing/refreezing water on your rooftops.
Consider adding window film, which can significantly improve energy efficiency. This is an easy and low-cost way to help keep warm air inside.
If your water heater is in an unheated space, such as your garage, consider wrapping it to keep it insulated. This might be a great time to consider flushing your water heater as well to keep it in good working order. Flushing your heater removes sediment and buildup that decreases efficiency and extends its lifespan. You can do this work yourself, or hire a professional.
Don’t forget to take care of the little things. Change the filter in your furnace; a clogged filter makes your furnace work harder, burning up more energy, and taking longer to warm your home. If you have a fireplace, purchase enough firewood for the full winter. Store your firewood in a cool, dry place to prevent rotting and protect it from pests. Be sure to set your ceiling fans to run counterclockwise.
Hire a professional to winterize your sprinkler system. If you don’t fully drain and winterize your irrigation, water can freeze inside the pipes and cause damage you won’t find out about until spring. Some irrigation companies offer service agreements that cover multiple visits a year for services such as winterization and springtime reactivation.
Also, walk around the outside of your home. Make sure your pool is covered. Check your gutters to make sure they’re clear; debris in gutters can cause water backup and numerous problems during the winter. Trim any branches that are hanging over your house that could be a problem in the winter months.
