It is the norm for us to prepare for winter by stocking up on warm clothes, cooking and storing tasty comfort food, prepping our vehicles with the appropriate tires for the upcoming weather. But what about winterizing your home? Your house gets affected by the cold weather too. So don’t let Old Man Winter take you by surprise this season. Being unprepared for any seasonal mishaps is never ideal. The following is a simple list of home winterizations tips from your service professionals at Five Star Heating & Cooling Dayton:
Get the Heating Checked
First, let’s start with the heating elements in your home, such as the boiler, chimney, or furnace. If you have a fireplace in your home, you should get it inspected and cleaned every year before its first use. Lack of chimney maintenance could be a safety hazard to you and your family. Keep in mind, this is how many house fires start. By now, you probably already have had your furnace serviced for the winter. Doing so helps identify any potential issues that could lead to a malfunctioning furnace. In addition, it helps prevent any long-term problems that may come up with your furnace. If you have not already checked your furnace, your family at Five Star Heating & Cooling Dayton would be happy to assist you.
Test The Detectors
Despite what you may think, house fires are still very common in the winter. Therefore you must test all the smoke detectors in your home. You should check them monthly and change batteries immediately as needed. If your home does not have a carbon monoxide detector, this is something we highly recommend getting for your home. Your family’s safety is of the utmost importance!
Seal Any Cracks
Consider caulking any cracks on both the exterior and interior of your home. Openings and cracks allow cold air to creep into your home. So you want to seal these with a high-quality sealant. You can also use weather stripping around your doors to make sure warm air does not seep out through the slits on the sides.
Clean the Gutters
It is wise to clean out your gutters before the winter settles in. Sticks and leaves will create barricades that allow ice dams to form in the winter, thus clogging your gutters. We suggest cleaning your gutters at least once a year, but definitely, before snowfall hits hard, as ice dams aren’t something you want to deal with before the winter. However, if your yard happens to have overhanging trees, the gutters need to be cleaned more frequently.
Replace Screen Doors & Windows
Last of all, it is a good idea to remove any window screens and screen doors for the winter. Those should be replaced with storm windows and doors if possible. Changing these will help with extra insulation and safeguard your main windows and doors from the winter elements.
We hope these home winterization ideas have helped narrow down some items to focus on as you prepare your home for the season. There is nothing quite like being safe and warm in a cozy home with your loved ones. If anything seems to be running amiss with your furnace, please give us a call at Five Star Heating & Cooling Dayton. We would feel honored to be allowed to provide you with five-star service.
Call Five Star Heating & Cooling Dayton today at (937) 708-8278, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
