Tips for Making Your Home Winter Ready
12/19/2019
As homeowners we’re often faced with the harsher realities of the changing seasons. A heavy snowfall doesn’t just mean a day off school or work; it can also mean an overworked furnace, a power outage, even burst pipes. And let’s not forget about rising energy costs — Americans spend almost twice as much of their income on energy as they did a decade ago, according to the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. While we can’t always predict what Jack Frost will send our way from year to year, we can take a few precautions to ensure we spend less time cleaning up weather-induced messes and fretting over utility bills and more time building sledding ramps in the back yard.
Insulate Windows
Winter drafts can drive up your energy bill — and detract from the cozy vibe you want inside your home when it’s cold outside — if your windows have any air leaks. But by reducing drafts you can lower your home’s energy costs by up to 20% per year, according to the U.S. Energy Department, while also making your living space more comfortable.
Trim Tree Branches
The last thing you need is a winter storm loosing the wrath of that mighty tree whose branches are angling over your roof. Not to mention, overhanding limbs can cause excess water to seep into cracks in your home’s roof or siding, which is why you want to make sure any tree limbs or branches surrounding your home are at least 3 feet away from the house.
Check the Roof
You certainly don’t want to find out you have a leaky roof after the first snow hits. A roof inspection can help you spot any potential issues.
Clear Out Gutters and Downspouts
Clogged rain gutters or downspouts can damage your home’s foundation or cause ice dams, which can lead to expensive repairs. So, after the leaves have fallen, clean your gutters to remove leaves, twigs, and gunk. Also, make sure the gutters aren’t sagging and trapping water, tighten gutter hangers and downspout brackets, and replace any worn or damaged materials.
Inspect Your Fireplace
A visual inspection, both inside and outside your home, can ensure that your wood-burning fireplace is in good shape for the burning season.
Smart Home Thermostat
A Smart Home Thermometer from Titan Alarm can help you put your house on a schedule, that way your house isn’t heating up while you’re away, wasting electricity, you can also set up a geo fence for your house to help your house be just the right temperature for you when you get home. To learn more about geo-fencing check out this blog we did. Click Here.
5. Keep An Eye On That Space Heater.
During the winter months, the fire departments see a massive increase in fires started with heating equipment. A recent study showed that at least half of all home fires between December and February are caused by space heaters and heating equipment.
To help prevent these kind of fires, furnaces, chimneys, space heaters and radiators need to be cleaned regularly and be sure to keep those blankets and wrapping paper away from them as well!
6. Utilize Your Smart Home
With a Titan Alarm Smart Home System, you can keep your home safe and armed, turn your lights on and off, keep your thermostat at just the right temperature and so much more! If you want to learn more about a Smart Home System from Titan Alarm, contact us!
