Winterizing Your Home

Hi Folks,

Do you have your home ready for winter? You should have, you know? Here are some easy to-do suggestions from Richard Rossbauer that you can do in a weekend and that will save you money and keep you comfy.

Woody  

Some Easy Effective Homeowner’s Winterizing Chores  
by Richard Rossbauer

If winter is just around the corner where you live, it is probably a good time to turn your attention from your outdoor gardening and landscaping chores to ones that could minimize your utility costs by winterizing your home.Many of the basic winterizing steps can be performed by the average homeowner; some may require professional assistance.

Weather stripping and closing up cracks and crevices on the outside of your house is a good place to start. Look at your doors and windows. For doors, you can use weather stripping to prevent cold air from seeping in around the sides, top and bottom. Window frames may need to be caulked where they join the outside wall siding.

Inexpensive Weather stripping kits, designed for the do-it-yourself homeowner are available at hardware and building supply stores.

If your house has a basement, you can protect the window wells by covering them with plastic shields – also available where you buy weather stripping and caulk.

The fireplace that provides a cozy warm environment for family gatherings on cold winter evenings and special holidays can be a major escape route for warm indoor air when it’s not in use.

Some fireplace maintenance might require professional attention, but there are some basic things you can do – like checking the damper to be sure that it opens and closes properly – and of course, keeping it closed when the fireplace is not in use.

If the chimney has not been cleaned for awhile, a chimney cleaning service can remove soot and creosote from the flue and check that there is a proper cap on top to keep birds and squirrels out.

If the weather in your area usually goes below freezing during winter, you should consider adding insulation in the attic to prevent warm air from leaking through the roof. This might lead to ice dams. Check your roof for worn out tiles and roof shingles and replace them while you still have time. You want to be sure that water can’t enter your house through the roof. Gutters should also be cleaned from any kind of debris while you are up there.

These few steps, easily done on a weekend, can lead to considerable savings in your energy bills and provide both comfort and peace of mind when those wintry blasts and freezing temperatures have arrived.

About the Author:

Richard started sharing his interests and hobbies at his “RichardPresents.com”, “Security Alert News Reporter”, and “Firewalls and Virus Protection” websites to help everyday Internet users navigate safely through Cyber Space. He promotes his “Computer Security Awareness Campaign” thru his blog and websites at Firewalls-and Virus-Protection.com and shares other fun stuff at <a href=”http://www.RichardPresents.com”<www.richardpresents.com

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