Save Money & Energy By Winterizing Your Home

Insurance Neighbor • December 1, 2016

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Small house wrapped in a bright red knitted scarf and hat on a white background
Planning Ahead For Winter

  • Get rid of drafts! Drafty windows and doors can cause you to waste up to 30% of the energy used to warm your house. Purchase or make a draft snake (draft-stopper) to block chilly air from seeping in under your doors, and remove window air conditioning units so your windows can be completely sealed. Check around your home for any gaps where air may be escaping and seal with caulking or weather-stripping. This usually occurs where any two materials meet, including around the foundation, around windows, or near your chimney.
  • Mind your energy usage. Turn down the heat when you leave your home so heated air isn't wasted on an empty house. Have your heating system checked to ensure it is running properly and adjusted to accommodate the workout it is going to get during the cold season.
  • Insulate, insulate, insulate! Are your walls and ceilings properly insulated? Pay special attention to your basement ceiling and attic floor. Your pipes and air ducts should also be insulated, as the majority of your heater's hot air could escape as it moves through the ducts to the vents. Insulating your pipes means that you will not only pay less for your hot water, but you'll also help to prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Take care of any dead tree limbs. Unhealthy tree limbs can fall under the weight of snow or heavy rain, damaging your home or vehicles. Clear dead limbs away before winter sets in so you can avoid damage to your home from a falling branch.
  • Ensure there is some airflow. It's important to eliminate any drafts and seal up leaks throughout your home, but you don't want the home to be completely airtight because the indoor air quality may become unhealthy. When cooking on a gas stove, be sure to run the range fan or crack a window to let gasses escape. Turn on the bathroom fan while showering to let the moist air out, as too much moisture can lead to mold, a health risk for babies and those with allergies and asthma.

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