Winterizing Your Home
Winter in Texas varies every year but the one constant factor is the need to protect your home. Winterizing, or protecting your home from the winter, is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for the harsh months ahead. It doesn’t take much to get your home ready for Old Man Winter and it could make your energy bill friendlier too!
Here are a few tips to prepare your home for the winter:
1. Call a HVAC professional for a furnace inspection
Make sure that your furnace is working properly by having your HVAC professional inspect it. You should expect to have a short-lasting odd smell which is natural when first firing up the furnace. However, if it lasts for a long time, shut down the furnace and call your HVAC professional. Also, make sure to change the furnace filters regularly. A dirty furnace filter hinders air flow and reduces efficiency.
2. Check for leaks
According to the EarthWorks Group, an average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall. Lower your energy bill by using weather-stripping around the doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk the windows. Another effective way is to seal crevice cracks and exposed entry points around the pipes. This will also prevent small animals from crawling in during the harsh winter.
3. Prevent plumbing freezes
A burst pipe from the Texas freeze is your worst nightmare. Look for all pipes that aren’t insulted, pass through unheated spaces or through crawlspaces and garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam, rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation. Insulating your pipes reduces heat loss and can raise hot water temperatures delivered through your water pipes. This reduces the energy on your boiler which will save money on your gas bill.
4. Don’t forget the chimney!
Thousands of fires each year begin from residential chimneys. Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean your chimney. A chimney sweep can check the structure of your flue and remove any combustibles that are trapped. Buy a protective cap for your chimney with a screen. Don’t compromise durability for appearance either; you’re going to need something very durable for the upcoming months.
If you have further questions, feel free to call the Texas Home Improvement Show at 866-937-0003 during our weekend show or visit THI’s Freezing Weather Preparation & Damage Preventions Tips. We welcome all questions and look forward to speaking with you. Stay warm, Texans.
Here are a few tips to prepare your home for the winter:
1. Call a HVAC professional for a furnace inspection
Make sure that your furnace is working properly by having your HVAC professional inspect it. You should expect to have a short-lasting odd smell which is natural when first firing up the furnace. However, if it lasts for a long time, shut down the furnace and call your HVAC professional. Also, make sure to change the furnace filters regularly. A dirty furnace filter hinders air flow and reduces efficiency.
2. Check for leaks
According to the EarthWorks Group, an average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall. Lower your energy bill by using weather-stripping around the doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk the windows. Another effective way is to seal crevice cracks and exposed entry points around the pipes. This will also prevent small animals from crawling in during the harsh winter.
3. Prevent plumbing freezes
A burst pipe from the Texas freeze is your worst nightmare. Look for all pipes that aren’t insulted, pass through unheated spaces or through crawlspaces and garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam, rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation. Insulating your pipes reduces heat loss and can raise hot water temperatures delivered through your water pipes. This reduces the energy on your boiler which will save money on your gas bill.
4. Don’t forget the chimney!
Thousands of fires each year begin from residential chimneys. Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean your chimney. A chimney sweep can check the structure of your flue and remove any combustibles that are trapped. Buy a protective cap for your chimney with a screen. Don’t compromise durability for appearance either; you’re going to need something very durable for the upcoming months.
If you have further questions, feel free to call the Texas Home Improvement Show at 866-937-0003 during our weekend show or visit THI’s Freezing Weather Preparation & Damage Preventions Tips. We welcome all questions and look forward to speaking with you. Stay warm, Texans.
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