The winter season in the United States is a time for celebration. Families gather together to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Children look forward to receiving gifts from Santa Claus and spending time with their loved ones. The winter is also a time for skiing, skating, and playing in the snow.
However, it’s also a time that most Americans prepare their home for. Winter storms are quite common in some areas of the country and can be expensive. For example, in 2021, winter storms cost about $15 billion in insurance claims, making it one of the most costly natural disasters in the country.
If you don’t want to be caught unprepared, there are a few things you can do to winter-proof your home.
Insulation
You have to protect your home from winter weather because temperatures can average around 32 Fahrenheit in the country. You can do this by ensuring that your home is well insulated. You can keep the warm air inside and the cold air out. This will help to reduce your heating costs and keep your family comfortable. Here are the things you need to do when insulating your home:
The Attic
When insulating your home, you need first to concentrate your efforts on the attic. The attic is the part of your home most exposed to the outside elements. Therefore more likely to lose heat. You need to ensure that your attic is properly insulated so that heat doesn’t escape. Certain insulation materials, such as fiberglass or cellulose, are better insulating than others. You can also add extra insulation to your attic by installing a radiant barrier. This will reflect heat into your home rather than letting it escape.
The Walls
After you’ve insulated your attic, you need to focus on the walls. Like the attic, the walls are also exposed to the outside elements and can lose heat. To insulate your walls, you need to add insulation between the studs. This will help to keep the heat in and the cold out.
The Windows
Another area of your home that needs to be insulated is the windows. Windows are one of the places where heat escapes from homes. To prevent this, you need to add insulation around the windows. You can do this by installing storm windows or adding weatherstripping around the edges of the windows.
The Doors
The doors of your home are also a place where heat can escape. To prevent this from happening, you should add insulation around the doorframes. You can also install a storm door to help keep the heat in and the cold out.
Heating System
Your heating system is one of the essential things in your home during winter. You need to ensure it’s in good working condition before the winter season starts. Your heating system should be serviced by a professional, so it’s ready to go when winter arrives.
You should also take steps to prevent your pipes from freezing. Pipes can freeze when the temperature outside drops below freezing. To prevent this, you should insulate your pipes by wrapping them in insulation or heating tape.
You should also open the cabinet doors in your kitchen and bathroom to allow warm air to circulate through the pipes.
Lastly, you need alternative heating sources in case your furnace breaks down. The best kind of alternative heating sources is the ones that use wood. A reliable wood-burning stove can ensure that your home is warm even if your furnace breaks down. Because, unlike electric heaters, wood-burning stoves don’t require electricity to operate, and as long as you have wood, they can keep going for a long time.
Fireplaces and Chimneys
Another way to keep your home warm is to use a fireplace. If you have a fireplace, you must ensure it’s in good working condition before winter starts. In addition, you should have the chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional. This will help to prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
You should also ensure no debris or blockages in the flue. The flue is the part of the chimney that goes up outside your house. It’s essential to keep it clear so smoke can escape when using the fireplace.
You should also invest in a suitable fire extinguisher and keep it close to the fireplace. This will help to put out any fires that may start.
Preparing your home for winter is essential to keeping you and your family comfortable during the colder months. By following the tips above, you can be sure that your home is ready and warm for the winter.