Baby it’s cold outside!
We’ve already broken out the heavy jackets and the worst winter weather has yet to arrive. In fact, the season won’t officially start until December 21. That means there’s still some time to prepare your home for winter, but not much. If you act now you can keep your home warm in an energy efficient and cost saving way. Tragar Home Services knows how important it is to get your home ready for any arctic blasts that might be headed our way, and we’d like to share some tips for making sure your home is up to whatever Old Man Winter throws our way.
Keeping Cold Air Out and Warm Air In
There are several recommendations the United States Department of Energy makes to get ready for winter. One big one is to “keep the outside air out and the inside air in.” In order to do that, you need to check your home for cracks which can allow warm air to escape. You should use caulk to seal cracks in stationary areas like doors and weatherstripping to take care of home components that move like windows. If you haven’t done so already make sure you’ve installed storm doors and windows.
Another part of your home that needs to be checked often are your ducts. Homes with central heating can lose about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system if they’re not properly sealed or insulated. You should also clean out your gutters because ice dams will form if they clog. This can lead to moisture seeping into your home and lead to higher energy bills.
If you have ceiling fans, you should reverse them so they run clockwise when you turn on your heat. According to Kiplinger, this will create an updraft, pushing warmer air away from the ceiling.
Making Sure You’re Insulated
One of the most important ways to winterize your home is to make sure that it’s properly insulated. Insulation provides resistance to heat flow and slows warm air from mixing with cold air so easily. Adding insulation will usually lower your energy bill. The first step is finding out how much insulation you already have.
Tragar Home Services Will Get You Ready for Winter
A good way to make sure you have the right amount of insulation is to have a home energy audit. The experts at Tragar Home Services will come to your home and give you an appraisal of how much energy you consume. Then we’ll show you ways your home can be more energy efficient.
Another important service Tragar provides is a tune-up. If you haven’t had a tune-up yet in preparation for winter, now’s the time. We’ll check your heating system to make sure the components are working, connections aren’t loose and that your system and thermostat settings are correct. We’ll also make sure your drains and burners are clean and that there aren’t any blockages or fire hazards.
Tragar Home Services can help you get your home prepared for winter and we’ll be there to assist you all year round. If you need a tune-up, a home energy audit or are interested in any of our products or services, contact us today.
