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Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or have been in your house for years, knowing how to properly winterize is an important part of home upkeep and can be key in enjoying and protecting your investment.
And while folks around here are fond of saying things like, “It wouldn't be so bad without the wind,” history (and sometimes our bones) tell us that those winds carry with them plunging temperatures and the snow and ice that mucks up our commutes and complicates our calendars.
We tend to spend more time at home in the winter, and in the spirit of “the best defense is a good offense,” we here at Peoples Bank have gathered up some of the best advice we’ve heard over the years to help you prepare your home for the challenges of the next few months.
Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or have been in your house for years, knowing how to properly winterize is an important part of home upkeep and can be key in enjoying and protecting your investment.
Let’s get started.
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Home Heating Systems
On January 22nd, 1943, the temperature in Spearfish, South Dakota, dropped from 54°F to -4°F in just 27 minutes. Although few of us would probably complain about temperatures in the 50’s in January, this example of extremes is a reminder that the weather can (and will) change drastically—sometimes even over the course of a day.
Getting your home heating system in tip-top shape can be crucial to your comfort and safety when the bad weather comes—and help to avoid unexpected expenses.
The best time to schedule your annual heating system inspection was two weeks ago. The second-best time is right now. Hiring a professional to clean, inspect, and repair your furnace or boiler in order to ensure it's running efficiently is a wise investment in your home. Identifying potential issues in advance can often lower the costs of repair and can ensure that issues are addressed during better weather when negative impacts can be minimized.
Hot tip: Ask your service person to inspect your ductwork. While your heating system may be running smoothly, leaky ducts can impact how efficiently that cherished warm air is distributed through the house. Your technician will pressurize the ductwork with a calibrated fan and measure the airflow with gauges to determine if (and where) any air is leaking.
DIY or Done For You
Looking for some fun and impactful weekend projects? Not every fix needs a professional’s touch (though there may be reasons to have them tackle these, too). With some basic skills, tools, and access to YouTube, you can handle some of the lower-hanging fruit.
Replace Filters Regularly
Dirty filters reduce heating efficiency and can cause system malfunctions. Replacement filters are available for most units at your local hardware store making it easy to put this fix on your yearly house maintenance list. Check your system first and consider snapping a picture with your phone before jumping in the car. You never know what details you’ll need. Ideally, you should replace your system’s filters every 1-3 months during the cold (heavy-use) season.
Check Your Thermostat
Ensure your thermostat is working correctly, and consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat for better temperature control and energy savings. WiFi-enabled thermostats have been gaining in popularity and are an easy way to automate your home. Some units even allow you to control the temperature in your house via an app on your phone. You can lower the heat while you are away and turn it up to toasty on your drive so you can be welcomed home into a warm house.
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Insulate Your Home
Like that heavy sweater your Great Aunt knit for you, or the puffy coat you found at the big warehouse store, proper insulation can be key to keeping your home regulated and warm this winter.
Often times a quick visual inspection of your attic and crawl spaces can tip you off to the need to “add layers”. A professional may be required to determine if insulation is present and/or can be added to your walls and beneath floors.
Insulation comes in many varieties including fiberglass, cellulose, sprayed foam, mineral wool, hemp, and even denim. According to the Department of Energy, homeowners, “... can save up to 20% on your home's heating and cooling costs or up to 10% on its total energy costs by adding insulation to attics, floors, crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists, and by reducing unwanted air leaks all around your house.”
Hot tip: If you’ve been bit by the insulation bug, consider the benefits of wrapping your water heater. This is another fairly easy DIY fix as insulating blankets are available at most hardware stores and online. In minutes, you can reduce heat loss and save on your energy costs.
Weatherstrip doors and windows
Weatherstripping helps to prevent cold air from entering (and warm air from escaping) your home and is another weekend project well within the abilities of many homeowners.
Install storm windows
Storm windows can help minimize energy waste and increase the overall comfort in your home - often they are an aesthetically pleasing upgrade too, with options across all budget levels.
Prepare Your Plumbing
A burst pipe can be a homeowner's worst nightmare, so now is the perfect time to prepare to avoid this destructive and costly headache.
Insulate your pipes
Wrapping pipes, especially those in unheated areas like basements, garages, and crawl spaces, can help prevent freezes. During extreme cold you might consider letting your faucets drip to avoid pressure buildup.
Install heat tape
Homeowners should consider using heat tape or heat cables on pipes that are particularly susceptible to freezing. Be mindful not to overlap heat tape so you avoid issues with overheating.
Hot tip: Find your water shutoff valve—now! Locating your home’s main water shutoff outside of an emergency situation can save you critical time and stress. Once you identify its location, test it to make sure it is in working order.
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Ready Your Roof and Gutters
Your roof bears the brunt of the weather throughout the year, and checking in on its condition before winter comes is a smart idea. Hiring a professional makes sense in many cases due to safety and the particular nature of certain tasks.
Clean your gutters
Doing so can prevent ice dams, which can cause water to back up and damage your roof. With a tall ladder and a partner, this can be a DIY project but is also an easy task to hand off to a pro.
Install roof heating cables
Roof heating cables can help prevent ice dams by keeping snow and ice from accumulating. They also help eliminate the risks of structural damage from the weight of snow and ice on your roof.
Inspect and Repair Flashing
Ensure that roof flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights is secure and in good condition to prevent leaks. This exterior fix can be more important than you think, as often the damage it causes is inside your home - and can be extensive.
Trim Trees and Branches
Trim any overhanging branches that could break under the weight of snow and ice, potentially damaging your roof. That tree that provides perfect shade in the summer might be a liability in an ice storm. A quick trim can go a long way towards making it safer year round.
Your Hometown Partners
We hope these tips help you prepare for the winter ahead. As the saying goes, “There is no such thing as bad weather, there is just weather and your attitude towards it.“
Peoples Insurance is dedicated to our communities and helping you achieve your dreams. From home & renters insurance to auto, farm, business, and crop insurance, we are here for all of your insurance needs!