Whether you are working to hang onto the last few days of summer or have already put up your autumn and Halloween decorations, there is no escaping the fact that cold weather is just around the corner. Ready or not, it is time to make sure that your home is ready for cold weather. There are a few things that you can do to prepare your home for the coming autumn and winter months.
Work on cleaning the gutters around your home. Even though summer typically brings home improvement projects, any neglected gutters should be cleaned out properly before the cold winds get here. Gutters are often full of grime, leaves, dirt, sticks and other debris that can clog them up and prevent your exterior drainage system from working properly. When gutters are clogged, water can seep into your home and this can lead to all sorts of problems. Because winter is already a time of higher energy costs, it is easier to clean your gutters now before a small issue turns into a major one.
Make sure you work on keeping the hot air in and the cold air out during the colder months. This means a DIY insulation and sealing project. As stated, energy costs are particularly high during the colder months, so to avoid leakage and even higher costs, it is important that you work to keep the warm air inside your home. Air can escape through any cracks in your windows or doors, so before the cold weather hits, use caulk to seal any cracks and openings around the house to decrease your chances of losing indoor air and increasing heating costs.
Before winter starts, check on your home’s furnace. If you aren’t familiar with how to do this, you may want to consult a plumbing and heating professional. Before you turn on your furnace in preparation for cold weather, check on it. It should be cleaned in the fall as sediment will have built up during the year and leaving it can lead to a major fire hazard. Get your furnace cleaned and inspected before you power it on to avoid this danger. As well, the filter should be changed to increase its energy-efficiency and increase air flow.
If it is recommended that you replace your furnace, look into a more energy-efficient model as it will likely save you hundreds of dollars in heating costs each year. After air filters, you will also need to check on your home’s air ducts. Even though your air ducts are not something you think of often, they are crucial to the energy-efficiency of your home and your furnace. A home with central can lose up to one-fifth of its air due to an improperly working air duct system, so have a professional look at them before snowy days roll around.
When it comes to staying cozy during the autumn and winter months, you need to make sure your home keeps you as well as you keep it. Check on your furnace, your home’s air ducts and seal all chances of escape for that precious warm air. Speak to a heating expert at Pittsburgh plumbing and heating supply today to make sure your furnace is ready to keep you warm when the weather turns cold.