How to Prepare Your House for Winter
As the temps get colder and days grow shorter, it’s quite tempting to just curl up under a warm blanket and let your home maintenance tasks hibernate until spring. But the truth is, avoiding some items on your honey-do list this season could result in problems – not to mention added costs – down the road. Here are some seasonal chores you should not ignore this winter.
- Schedule a free energy audit. Contact your utility provider to learn how to improve your home’s energy efficiency and save up to 30%.
- Take care of fallen leaves. While a thin layer of mulched leaves gives your lawn a nutritional boost, too many fallen leaves can smother the turf and promote mildew growth, which can actually kill the grass.
- Pile firewood away from your home. Ideally, stack firewood off the ground at least 6 feet away from your home to prohibit bugs and insects from dwelling inside the pile. Also, inspect all firewood and shake off any insects or debris before bringing it into your home.
- Protect outdoor faucets and spigots. If you haven’t removed and put away your hoses, now’s a good time to do so. You should also winterize outdoor plumbing and cover faucets to prevent pipes from freezing.
- Get rid of icicles. While they might look pretty hanging from your roof and gutters, icicles can seriously harm a family member if they fall at the wrong time. What’s more, they can be a sign of ice dams which prevent water from draining off the roof properly. That, in turn, can lead to roof damage and interior leaking. So be sure to clear your gutters of leaves and debris.
- Keep humidity levels in check. Prevent itchy, dry, and flaky skin and help sooth scratchy throats and stuffy noses by running a humidifier during dry winter months.
- Use the programmable feature on your thermostat. Keeping your thermostat set at the same temp day or night, whether you’re home or not, can cost you a pretty penny. Instead, replace older thermostats with programmable models – especially those with remote Wi-Fi access so you can adjust temperatures up or down in keeping with changes in your schedule.
Here at Correct Temp, we can provide added peace of mind with our multi-point heating system cleaning and inspection. The early in the season you get it done the better to help prevent problems before they become repair bills. We also add comfort with a whole-house humidifier and help you save money by replacing older thermostats with programmable thermostats. Correct Temp: one source for all your heating, cooling, and indoor air quality needs. Contact us today or anytime for service.