Winterizing Your Home

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If you didn’t prep the exterior of your home for the ravages of winter weather, there’s still time to do it before the next blast of cold air or heavy snowstorm. Trust me, don’t procrastinate. While chores like cleaning the gutters can be hard work, not doing them can lead to much bigger problems down the line. Here are some tips and some products that can make these tasks easier!

Protect the Patio

Bring in or, at least, cover up tables, chairs, and grill.  Any kind of aluminum patio furniture has the potential to rust, even if it’s painted.  While you’re out on the patio, drain water out of garden hoses and stow them in a warm place. Otherwise, the water can freeze, weaken the lining, and cause holes to form.

Seal gaps and cracks in your foundation and walls.

Make sure there are no drafty spots around your windows and doors. The last thing you want is to have gaps where cold air can seep into the house and heat, that you’ve paid a bundle to create, can escape.

If you’re not a big do-it-youself-er, this task can seem intimidating but don’t worry, it’s easy and doesn’t take very long. Wait until it gets dark, then grab a partner and a flashlight. Send your buddy outside and have him point the flashlight around the edges of your doors and windows. If you see light coming through anywhere, you have a leak, if you don’t see light, you’re okay! If you find leaks be sure to caulk them up. You can also try a door sweep, with a metal strip on the top that gets attached to the bottom of your door and a hard plastic strip that hangs down, touching the floor and closing any gaps between the door and the floor. You can also use a door draft stopper, which usually consists of two fabric cylinders that sit on either side of the door.

Keep the slush outside.

A doormat with a rough texture helps remove mud and gunk from shoes before guests enter the house. Even more, a hard plastic boot tray and rubber mat will prevent water and salt from damaging wood floors.  No mudroom? No problem. You can improvise by using stacked wire or laminate cubes by your entrance door. Let your kids pick out one or two cubes apiece (from stores like Home Depot or Ikea) and ask them to stow their boots in one, and mittens and scarves in another. Mix and match colors, or spray paint them at home.

Upgrade doors and windows.

Double- and triple-pane windows are more energy efficient. To prevent drafts, buy a storm door with full glass. Consider low-emissivity (or low-E) window glass treated with an invisible metallic coating that saves energy, reflects heat, and cuts down the UV rays that damage furniture.  It’s kind of like putting sunglasses on your windows.

Don’t overlook your chimney.

Use a powerful flashlight to look up the chimney for signs of bird or squirrel nests — you may see twigs poking out — which can be a fire hazard. If you can get to it safely, grab the nest with a rake and pull it out. There are special screens you can place over the chimney opening (though your best bet is to have a certified chimney sweep install them).

Buy a new rack for your wood if yours has become misshapen from the heat. Otherwise, it won’t burn as well because oxygen can’t reach all sides of the fire.

Break out the cozy throws.

Add layers to your indoor decorating, much like you do with your fall and winter fashion.  Textured throw pillows and blankets can serve as “pops of bright colors” to combat dreary days. A trend to try this year? The natural alpaca throws are big this winter season.

Protect cold toes walking across tile and ceramic floors with rugs or mats, says Segur. Textiles also cut down on slip-and-falls if water or ice gets tracked indoors.

Change your furnace filter.

Dirty filters make the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system work too hard, shortening its life and costing you money.  As your furnace filter fills with particles and dirt, your furnace becomes less efficient.  While you’re at it, considering bringing in a pro to give your HVAC a tune-up.

Also check the furnace’s pilot light. The flame should be blue, clear, and steady. If it is sluggish or goes out, call your utility company; this is a dangerous sign. (But don’t turn the furnace off, because the technician will need to look at the flame to see how it is functioning.) The pro will clean and relight. If you have a problem with an electric furnace, call a certified professional ASAP.

Clean gutters.

The purpose of roof gutters is to move water away from the structure of the house. Without them, rain water and melting snow would drip down the exterior damaging the siding and pooling around the foundation. If your gutters are clogged with leaves, they won’t be able to drain off the water as they’re designed to do.

An easy way to keep leaves out of your gutters is to buy gutter covers (products like screens that get installed on top of your existing gutters) or replace your gutters with covered ones.

While you’re up there, also check out your roof for missing shingles, cracked tiles, and loose flashing (the sheet metal around the chimney and other openings that prevents leaks). If you’re not handy, get a professional to make the appropriate repairs.