Winter is an amazing time of year. Fresh snow provides beautiful views and brings about a sense of wonder. If you live in a place where it doesn’t snow, you still have things like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years to look forward to.
In warm climates, winter provides a reprieve from the heat. However, some places are prone to extremely cold weather, which can be problematic.
Aside from learning how to stay warm, you also need to protect your home from things like frozen pipes and water leaks. We’re here to help. Keep reading for our top winter home tips to help you stay warm this season.
Get an HVAC Checkup
If your home relies on a furnace to keep you warm all winter, it’s ideal to have it serviced before the cold weather hits. You can replace the filter yourself. However, we recommend having an HVAC professional come by for a check-up.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fan
If you have ceiling fans, you can reverse the rotation of the blades to help heat your home. Make sure your fan blades are rotating clockwise. This will pull cool air up, displacing the warm air setting at the ceiling.
This is one of the simplest winter home tips that will help you save money on your heating bill.
Inspect Your Roof
One of the worst things about winter is heavy snow and ice build-up on your roof. If your roof is in good condition, you should be able to avoid leaks and further damages. However, we recommend hiring a roofing specialist to make sure.
Even if you live in an area where it doesn’t snow, you need to make sure your roof is in good condition. For example, high temperatures during the summers in Arizona can damage roofing materials. Contact Phoenix Roofing contractors today to make sure your roof is in tip-top shape.
Put Plastic Over Drafty Windows
Single-pane windows are poorly insulated. In old buildings, one of the best winter home heating tips is to tape plastic up over the windows. This can significantly cut down on drafts and lower your heating costs.
Check the Weatherstripping on Doors and Windows
One of the easiest winter home tips is to replace worn-out or damaged weatherstripping around your doors and windows. Weatherstripping plays a significant role in keeping cold air out of your home. If you have pets that paw at the door, there’s a good chance it needs replacing.
Check the Insulation in Your Attic
Keeping your house warm in the winter may come down to making improvements in your home’s insulation. Heat naturally rises. If your attic is poorly insulated, you could be losing a lot of heat through your ceiling.
Prevent Freezing Pipes
Next, if your home has a history of frozen pipes, prepare for it in advance this winter. This is one of the most vital winter home tips. You and your family shouldn’t have to worry about not having running water.
Insulate your pipes and consider investing in heat tape.
Service Your Fireplace and Chimney
One of the most important winter home safety tips is to make sure your fireplace and chimney are ready for a season of burning fuel. This means cleaning out your chimney and stove of any residue that could lead to chimney fires. It’s also important for making sure smoke has an unblocked path out of your home.
Looking for More Winter Home Tips or Other Home Improvement Advice?
We hope our winter home tips help you stay warmer and more comfortable this winter. After all, there’s nothing better than snuggling up on the couch with a warm blanket and hot coffee while it’s cold outside.
And if you’re looking for more home improvement tips, we’re here for you. Our blog was created to help homeowners like you perfect their personal sanctuaries. Check out some of our other articles before you go for more advice.
