Seasonal Jobs: Tips for Winter Weatherizing Your House

There are several ways to weatherproof your home before the start of cold winter temperatures this year.

Checking For Drafts

Using a lit candle or a lit incense stick, you can check for drafts around the perimeters of all doors and windows in your home. If you see the flame flicker, or the incense smoke waver, you will need to fill in the draft. Drafts can be filled using expandable foam, weather-stripping, or caulking. All of these methods use products that can be purchased from your local hardware or home goods store. Use draft blockers again the bottoms of your doors, as well.

Clean Out Your Gutters

Before the first snowstorm hits, be sure to give your gutters a complete cleaning. Removing debris from the gutters will allow the snow and ice to melt away from the roof. If the water freezes and causes an ice jam, it could seep into the interior of your home. If the gutters are too high for you to clean yourself, consider hiring the help of a Vancouver roofing contractor or a Chisholm Roofing Ltd professional.

Check Your Furnace

It is a good idea to give your furnace a test run in the autumn. This way, if there are any problems, you will have time to call an electrician to repair your furnace before the cold weather hits. Change your furnace filter once a month for optimal heating performance.

Weatherize Your Windows

If you have storm windows, the end of fall would be the time to put them back in instead of regular windows. If you do not have storm windows you can try purchasing a weatherizing kit for glass panes. Plastic sheets are affixed to the insides of the windows of your home, and will adhere with the use of heat. They can be removed in the springtime.

Add Extra Insulation

Adding an extra layer of insulation to your attic can make a big difference on the amount of heat that will stay inside your home. Check your attic to see how much you have up against the attic ceiling. If there is room, add an extra layer to the entire surface.

Insulate Pipes

Make a check around your entire home for any exposed pipes. Crawlspaces and garages get very cold in the winter months and are susceptible for freezing and potential cracking. Purchase foam insulation sleeves to add around any exposed pipes.

These tips can make a big difference in the amount of heat that you lose from the home. With a bit of planning, you will feel assured that the heat will stay inside your home, therefore saving you money.

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