If you winterize your home, you’ll be better prepared for the cold temperatures that Mother Nature will throw your way. The three most important tips to buttoning up for winter include sealing air leaks, adding insulation and having your furnace serviced.
1. Sealing air leaks
- Check your window frames outdoors for cracks between the frame and the exterior of your home. Seal them with silicon caulk.
- Look for places where cables, wires and pipes enter your home. If they’re too large to caulk, use expanding foam to seal them. Check your dryer vent, as well, which can often be a place where small cracks may form.
- Check your attic during the day. If you can see any light coming in from the flues, vents or chimney, you probably have air leaks. If they’re around the furnace flue or a chimney, use metal flashing or fireproof sealers to close them up.
2. Adding insulation
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you have at least 16 inches of insulation in the attic. If you can see the tops of the floor joists, you need more. Fiberglass batt and blown-in insulation are relatively easy to install and dollar for dollar, might be the best way to winterize your home. Insulation lasts for years and stops the transfer of heat between your attic and living spaces.
3. Servicing your furnace
Having an HVAC professional clean and adjust your furnace or heat pump not only will lower your heating bill, it also will provide greater safety. The technician will clean the burner and check both it and the heat exchanger for cracks, which can leak carbon monoxide into your home. Checking the ductwork is another component of annual maintenance. Leaks can drive up your heating bill by as much as 30 percent and backdraft carbon monoxide into your home.
If you haven’t scheduled a furnace tune-up yet to help winterize your home, just call me at 615-306-0375 and I’ll do it for you!