After a warm – some may even say hot – start to autumn, the weather is turning colder. Hopefully, you have taken many of the tips we have provided to prepare the outside of your home for winter. Now here are some tips to prepare the inside of your house for winter so you can keep it comfortable, safe and energy-efficient (thus reducing your heating bills) while also providing a healthy environment. Note that many of the tips will help with more than one of these.
| Item | Comfort | Safety | Energy-Efficiency/Cost Savings | Health |
| Tune up furnace, including changing furnace filters | x | x | x | x |
| Have ductwork cleaned | x | x | x | |
| Buy a Wi-Fi programmable thermostat | x | x | ||
| Let the sunshine in during the day and close drapes, curtains, etc. at night | x | x | ||
| Insulate areas such as the attic, basement and garage | x | x | ||
| Seal all cracks and gaps by doors and windows | x | x | ||
| Make sure vents are not blocked by furniture | x | x | ||
| Close doors and close vents in any room not being used | x | |||
| Have ceiling fans rotate clockwise | x | x | ||
| If you have not done it in a year, change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors | x | |||
| If smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are more than 10 years old, replace them | x | |||
| Insulate your water pipes to prevent them from freezing | x | |||
| Invest in a Leak Defense System to notify you if hidden leaks occur | x | |||
| Open cabinet doors when it gets really cold to protect pipes from freezing | x | |||
| On those frigid days let cold water drip from faucets to prevent pipes from freezing | x | |||
| Utilize plants to keep the air clean | x | |||
| Wash down walls and vacuum rugs, carpets and upholstery frequently | x | |||
| Have your chimney swept | x | |||
| Make sure to close the damper when the fireplace is not in use | x | x | ||
| Have an emergency kit with blankets, water, non-perishable food and batteries ready in case the power goes out | x | |||
| Better yet, invest in a standby generator in case the power goes out | x | x | x | x |
| Winterize your sump pump by disconnecting any attachment hose connected to its discharge pipe | x | |||
| Purchase a water heater insulation blanket for your water heater | x |
Contact Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric for Winter-Related Products and Services
The expert plumbers, HVAC technicians and electricians at Ravinia Plumbing can help you in a variety of ways to prepare the inside of your house for winter. Our customers have relied on us since 1928 (that’s 97 years!) for quality products, knowledgeable technicians, and superior service, including 24/7/365 emergency service. That is why we’ve made a name for ourselves as the most trusted plumbing, sewer, heating and air conditioning, and electrical company in Chicago’s North Shore and Northwest suburbs. Contact Ravinia Plumbing today to schedule an appointment.