5 Steps to Prepare Your Home For Winter
Winter weather is upon us in Sterling, CO! The harsh weather during the winter months in may result in higher energy usage for your home. There are a number of things that you can do to ensure you are safe and warm during the winter and help you save energy. Below we cover 5 essential steps that will help prepare your house for winter.
Have your furnace serviced
Spending a little money to have your furnace looked at by a professional annually can save you money both in energy and unexpected repairs. A technician can look at your boiler, furnace or heat pump to ensure it is running as efficiently as possible and to avoid you needing repairs on the coldest days in winter.
Perform a roof inspection
The roof can often be overlooked while preparing your home for the winter months. A roof can have damaged shingles that leak water after ice has melted. The excess moisture can also cause water damage, which leads to your roof decaying. If you are not scared of heights, this is an easy one to perform yourself. If you are a little cautious about heights, you can hire an inspector to look at your roof.
Caulk your windows and doors
Have you noticed a draft in your house or a sudden burst of cold air? Windows and doors can have gaps in them, which cause cold air and unwanted moisture to seep in. Caulking your windows and doors that have gaps can help you save money by decreasing how long and how high you are required to use your furnace. Also, caulking prevents water from seeping in and causing damage to the inside of your home.
Turn off exterior faucets
Winterizing your faucets is crucial to avoid bursting pipes, which can lead to water damage inside your home. The first step is to remove your hoses or other attachments. Then, locate and turn off your shut-off valves. After, go outside and turn on your faucets until they drain fully, leaving the faucet in the on position. Finally, insulate your faucet with a faucet cover. Performing these four steps to winterize your exterior faucets can save you from dealing with a tremendous headache during the height of winter.
Drain your sprinkler system
Preparing your sprinkler system for winter is crucial. Not daring your sprinkler system results in the water freezing in the pipes, causing it to expand and burst the pipes, which makes it useless for the spring and summer months. These four steps make it easy to drain your sprinklers yourself.
Shut off the water - The system I often found by the main water meter.
Turn off your timer - If your system has an automatic timer, it is essential to turn that off as well.
Drain the water - Different systems have varying methods to drain them.
Manually - Find your shut-off valves at low points or ends of the piping. Slowly open the valves one at a time and let the water run out, then close them when finished.
Automatic - Some sprinkler systems have components that will automatically drain the water once the main valve is shut off and the water pressure drops. You can usually activate the system by running one of the sprinkler heads with the water supply off. Afterward, locate the solenoid on each valve—a plastic cap with wires coming out of the top—and loosen it, which allows air to flow into the system and water to flow out.
We highlighted five essential ways to help prepare your house for winter, but there are many other actions you can take to prepare your home for winter. Find out additional ways you can get your house ready for colder and wetter weather here.