5 WAYS TO GET YOUR HOME WINTER READY

As the temperatures start to drop, it’s important to make sure that your house is ready for the changes and the best time to do that is in the fall. A couple of hours spent now will save you time and money, and ensure your peace of mind through the holidays. Here are 5 quick and easy things that you can do to make sure you are ready.

1. CHECK INSULATION

Perhaps one of the most important items to check is the insulation in your house. If you live in a cold climate and your insulation is not performing as it should, you could be losing of thousands of dollars each year in energy costs. A quick way to check this is by looking in your attic to see if the floor joists are visible. If the insulation is level or below the joists, you might consider adding some more.

2. CHECK WINDOW SEALS

Similar to insulation, windows can be a costly energy leak if they are not sealed properly. One way to check this is to close your window on a piece of paper and try to pull the paper out. If the paper slips out without tearing, you are losing heat and money. A quick way to fix this is to install weather stripping to your window frame. For older houses, also take a look at the seal holding the glass in the frame and the areas around the frame as well as these might need to be re-caulked to prevent leaks.

3. TEST HVAC

By testing out your HVAC and furnace ahead of time, you could save yourself from the cold when it comes time to turn it on for real. Turning it on and letting it run for a few minutes should be enough to make sure it is working properly.

4. CLEAR GUTTERS

You’ve probably heard it before, but clearing your gutters is one of the key things you can do to prevent roofing issues caused by cold weather. If water is unable to drain properly from your roof it likely to freeze and create ice dams, potentially causing substantial damage to your roof.

5. WRAP EXPOSED PIPES

Hopefully, you’ve never had to experience a pipe burst first hand, but if you know anyone that has you know how painfully expensive it can be. By insulating exposed pipes, hopefully you can avoid the headaches (and the bills) that come with burst pipes.

BONUS: TURN OFF OUTSIDE WATER (& DRAIN HOSES)

If you live in the parts of the country that don’t see above freezing for months on end, then making sure that water is shut off to outside spigots and that the lines are clear will help you avoid potential catastrophe. To do this, turn off the water from the shutoff valve and drain the line by opening the spigot outside until all the water has drained.

By taking these steps, you can help save time, money, and headaches throughout the winter. As always, be sure to use the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed to safely complete the job. Be sure to wear a ventilation mask when checking your insulation, and gloves when cleaning out your gutters. From water resistant to impact protection, Ironclad offers a full range of hand safety solutions to make sure that you complete all your projects hand injury free.