Well, the weather is turning colder. The leaves are on the ground. The winter clothes are out. You’ve prepared the outside of your house for winter. Now make sure the inside of your house is ready as well. Here are a few winter home preparation tips to help you stay warm and cozy this season.
Winter Home Preparation Tips
- Male sure your furnace is tuned up so it will be ready to go. If you need a new unit, the time to do that is now – not when the furnace fails on a frigid day.
- Consider purchasing a Wi-Fi programmable thermostat that can be programmed to lower the temperature when you are not home or asleep.
- Program that thermostat perhaps a few degrees cooler to keep the energy costs down. You can always cover up with an extra blanket or add layers of clothing to keep warm.
- Make sure there is no furniture blocking vents in rooms that you use.
- Close off the vents in rooms you don’t use.
- Keep shades, drapes, and blinds open during the day to let the sun warm your home. Close them at night.
- Buy a humidifier to maintain your home’s humidity,
- If you have a humidifier, clean it and replace the water panel.
- Have your chimney inspected and cleaned.
- Seal and/or caulk leaks and cracks around windows and doors to prevent the cold air from entering your home.
- Check your attic insulation to ensure warm air is not escaping.
- Reverse your ceiling fans so that they rotate clockwise to push heated air down (the ceiling fan only needs to be on when you are in the room)
- Winterize your sump pump by disconnecting any extension hose attached to your sump pump’s discharge pipe.to prevent freezing.
- Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Change the batteries.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as your garage, attic or basement.
- Cover your water heater with an inexpensive (about $25) water heater insulation blanket.
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 complete many of these winter home preparation tips. Our customers have relied on us since 1928 (that’s 96 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 Chicagoland. Contact Ravinia Plumbing today to schedule an appointment.
