Windows and Doors
When the deep freeze starts to set in, the last thing you want to worry about is losing valuable heat due to drafty windows and doors. In addition to the cost associated with a heating system that has to work overtime, there’s the comfort factor and with more time spent at home in general, there’s something to be said for keeping things cozy–for both sound mind and body.
UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF WINTERIZING
The process of winterizing your windows and doors seems simple enough–if they leak, they let cold air in and allow heat to escape. While that’s true, it’s important to understand how serious an impact this can have on how well your home actually retains heat. It might be tempting to ignore the issue and just raise the thermostat up a bit to compensate, but what you may not realize is by doing this you’re contributing to a problem that will continue to grow–in the form of a much higher utility bill. According to the Department of Energy, drafty windows are responsible for 25% – 30% of residential heating energy use. That’s hard-earned money that could be saved for a rainy day or spent elsewhere.
For windows and doors, weatherstripping is another easy to apply and affordable solution. Essentially, the weatherstripping is applied to areas where the actual window or door meet the fixed framing that holds them in place. Once they’re in the closed position, the weatherstripping helps to cut down on the air flow.
Sealing gaps has the added benefit of keeping moisture out which can actually deteriorate the window or door and possibly create an environment where mold can form.
If you have a bit of a budget, you could even consider storm windows and doors. These products are installed over your existing windows and doors. While there are stock options available to choose from, it may be a case where you have to custom order to fit the size properly. Whether you hire a pro or decide to do this yourself is all based on your own skills.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I SHOULD REPLACE MY WINDOWS AND DOORS INSTEAD? Whether you’re a first time home buyer or you’ve owned your home for years, a common misconception is that you have to wait for the weather to warm up to jump into a replacement window or door project. Fortunately, that’s just not the case. With some added measures by the installation team to keep your house warm during the project, this is totally doable. Since each window (or door, if you have more than one), is removed and replaced one at a time, it’s not as if all the openings will be breached at the same time which isolates the heat loss during the process. Plus, the savings on your energy bills will be almost immediate and it’s one less day of unnecessary wear and tear on your heating system.
Prevent frozen pipes
Temperatures below freezing can cause the water in your pipes to freeze. When water freezes, it expands. This will make your pipes burst, usually causing water to spray everywhere.
You’ll have to replace the pipes and clean up the mess. The good news is you can prevent frozen pipes with little effort. A small amount of work to prep for cold weather will save you money and the headache of a mess.
First, maintain at least 60 degrees in your home. Most home insurance companies won’t cover burst pipes in the home if the temperature is set too low. With your thermostat set at 60 or above, you’re guaranteed even the coldest parts of your home won’t get to freezing.
Pipes on the exterior of your home, going to something like a garden hose or a sprinkler system, can freeze much faster when temps dip. To prevent this:
Disconnect and store any connected hoses.
Open the outside valve to allow any remaining water to drain out.
Turn off the shutoff valve inside your home that supplies water to the outside pipes.
Many homes have an indoor drain valve near the shutoff valve. Use this to drain any remaining water out of the line.
While some homes have a heated basement, others are built on top of crawl spaces. If your home has one, you’ll have to take extra steps to prevent the pipes in the crawl space from freezing during the winter season. Here’s what you can do:
On the coldest days, close the crawl space vents. Make sure to open them when it warms back up, as these vents keep your crawl space dry. Insulate the crawl space and seal up any cracks or holes that allow cold air in. When it gets especially cold, wrap pipes along outer walls in heat tape to keep them warm.
Cle
Check and maintain your source of Heat
Get your fireplace clean and ready for its starring role this season. Remove smoke and soot stains from the fireplace surround and chimney facing by spraying the surface with water followed by scrubbing with a mixture of all-purpose cleaner and water. You can also try a mixture of vinegar and water. For marble and stone surfaces, follow the water with a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water. Clean glass fireplace doors with a vinegar and water
solution, adding some ashes from the
fireplace to gently scrub the glass.
Remember to Clean your chimneys !!
Schedule for your cleaning today.
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Easy Do’s and Don’ts for Winterizing Your Heating and Cooling system we guarantee you’ll enjoy winter a whole lot more (or at least hate it a whole lot less) if your heating system is working optimally. Getting your heating system ready for winter will make the winter cozy and fun! Getting your heating system ready for winter will make the winter cozy and fun! Furnace maintenance is actually very easy – much easier than dealing with a major repair. These simple “to-dos” take about half an hour to complete, and are well worth your time. You’ll save money, avoid annoying and expensive breakdowns, and help keep your family safe and comfortable all winter long. And, our list of “don’ts” will help you avoid mistakes that can cause equipment breakdowns and endanger your loved ones. (As a bonus, these do’s and don’ts will help your air conditioning system survive the winter in great shape so that it’s ready to go when summer returns!)
DO…Call for your annual service ASAP, if you haven’t yet. DO…Remove flammable items that may have been stored next to the furnace over the summer (weed whackers, lawn movers, gas cans, etc). DO…Change/clean your air filter regularly, especially during heavy use seasons (winter and summer). You should replace disposable fiberglass filters, and wash electrostatic or electronic filters, at least every three months, and more often if they look dirty. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool (a waste of energy). A clean filter will keep dirt and dust out of your system, increasing its longevity and reducing the need for expensive repairs. DO…Check your thermostat programming to make sure it reflects your family’s current schedule. This will help you reduce energy costs. DO…Check your chimney to make sure there are no cracks or loose bricks. DO…Remove window AC units, and cover outside AC units to minimize damage from winter weather and debris (you can buy a cover at your local hardware store). DO…Install a carbon monoxide detector next to your sleeping area. DON’T…Try to service your heating system on your own. Leave it to qualified professionals! DON’T…Wait for the first cold night to turn on your furnace for the first time. Test your heater for a few minutes while it’s still warm out (like in early September), to make sure that it’s working well on the first cold day. Also, if it’s warm, you can comfortably open the windows to disperse that “first time” smell. DON’T…Try to turn on the heat while the thermostat is still set in AC mode. Just setting the dial above room temperature won’t activate the heat if the system is still in AC mode. DON’T…Cover outside AC units with plastic. Plastic traps moisture and can lead to rust and deterioration. Instead, use a cover specifically designed for outdoor AC units. DON’T…Assume that because you have a carbon monoxide detector, you don’t need to schedule a furnace inspection. A carbon monoxide detector should be a second line of defense, not a substitute for annual service