Winter is coming and it is important to prepare your home for winter before you turn on your furnace for the first time. This is the perfect time to make sure you are familiar with these safety precautions and prepare your home to keep cold weather at bay. Follow our guide to prepare your home for this winter and take comfort in a warm, cozy home.
1. How Cold Weather Affects Your Home
The first thing that happens when the outside temperature drops is that all the residents of the house shut their doors and windows. You can close your doors and windows, or you might install weatherproof products like insulation, weather stripping, spray foam, and weather stripping. The problem is that we tend to stagnate the interior of our homes and trap moisture inside. This is especially true for people who create moisture by breathing, bathing, and cooking. Stagnant odors can also be created that allow airborne particles (germs, dust, mites, etc.). trapping them in our homes.
To compensate for the lower temperatures outside, the heating system is activated. The heating system can dry the interior, but it can also cause expansion, contraction, cracks, doors that don’t work, separation of wood trim and other problems. Gas forced-air furnaces can be used to clean your interior. It is important to maintain a healthy balance between heat and moisture in your home. Too much moisture can lead to mold growth, windows steaming up and doors sticking.
It’s common for plumbing water pipes to be found in crawl spaces that are vulnerable to freezing. If your pipes are not properly insulated, they can burst, causing water leakage and damage to your house. Pre-fabricated wood framing is what roof trusses are, and it’s often a triangle shape. This is what creates the roof pitch. This supports the roofing material. These trusses are made of one piece and can be affected simultaneously by both the interior and exterior temperatures.
2. Why Winterizing Your Home Is Important
The warm days of summer fade away as winter creeps in. The coffeemaker cranks overtime to produce steamy, warm and delicious brews; the heat is switched on to get rid of the cold. It can be difficult to deal with the cold temperatures of winter. However, if you prepare your home for winter, you can avoid the discomfort that comes with it.
What is winterizing? Winterizing includes a variety of tasks that are aimed at preparing for winter.
Preparation is key to keeping the cold out and protecting your home from potential damage due to extreme temperatures like snow, freezing rain, or sleet. Here are some reasons to winterize your home and protect it from the seasonal effects:
Save Energy, Save Money
The winterizing process includes insulating your house against the cold. If you seal your home well and protect it from air leaks, your home will consume less energy to heat. This can translate into savings on your Centerpoint Energy bills.
Prevent Unnecessary Repairs
Regular maintenance can help protect your home from any unexpected problems. A professional can inspect your HVAC system before the temperatures drop too low. This will ensure that your furnace is running all winter.
You should also have someone inspect any other items in your home, especially those you don’t use during warmer months like your fireplace and chimney. There could be hidden problems that can cause damage.
Secure Your Home From Potential Disasters
Protect your home from damage caused by freezing temperatures, snow and ice by winterizing it. Because it is completely exposed to the elements, winterizing your exterior home is particularly important. Prepare your Texas home for winter. This will minimize, if not eliminate, any potential damage to your home. Winterizing protects your home and prevents costly repairs.
3. Prepare Your Home For A Freeze With Ease With These Tips
It’s best to begin winterizing your home early. Do not wait for the temperature to drop. Instead, get your winterization project underway in the fall. These activities are best done in the fall. It is important that your home be ready for winter before it gets cold. No one likes to do home improvements in the cold.
Here are some cost-effective tips and tricks for winterizing your home that require very little effort. This handy home winterization checklist contains everything you need.
Get Your Heating System Checked
Your heating system should be checked before you start winterizing your house. The heating unit is the appliance that you most frequently use. It is therefore important to take the time to inspect it before you put it to work.
When winterizing your home, check the filters. Take out any dirt or dust that has built up and wash them. Dry them. After they are completely dry, clean them and put them back in. Clean filters can improve air quality and cut down on energy costs by up to 15%
A licensed HVAC technician in Texas can help you perform a thorough inspection of your HVAC system. Your HVAC system will remain efficient year-round with regular preventative maintenance.
Smart Home Devices Save You Effort
If you are looking to winterize your home, smart home devices are a must-have. To detect water leakage, you can place a smart water detector near the boiler or water heater. To keep you warm and comfortable all night, you can use a smart heating pad.
To maintain a comfortable home climate, smart thermostats are useful for central heating systems. Smart AC Controllers are the best choice to control your ductless heat pumps. Smart AC controllers allow you to reduce your energy bills. Smart climate control devices allow you to set up a schedule for the entire week and use temperature and humidity triggers in order to maintain the ideal environment.
Winterize Your Pipes
Water expands when it freezes. This can cause pipe damage! Your pipes may freeze and burst when the temperature drops to below 32F. Before the extreme cold takes hold, always check your pipes for blockages. Also, winterize them. Pipes located in places like the garage are more susceptible to freezing during winter. Pressure buildup can make a pipe more susceptible to cracking in extreme cold.
Insulate your pipes and inspect your home for cracks. This is an important step to take when winterizing. It is possible to disconnect any pipes that are outside your home like garden hoses and sprinklers. A great solution is the freeze protection mode that allows the ductless heat pump to blow hot air but consumes minimal power to prevent freezing in your home.
Bottom Line
There are many ways to make your winter home warm and inviting. If homeowners take the time to prepare for freezing weather, they don’t have to be caught unaware by snow, ice and arctic air.
