Your home is often the biggest financial investment you’ll ever make. Preparing your home for winter will protect your investment and make your life easier. Use these twelve tips for making your home winter ready.

Seal Up Leaks

Leaks in your windows, pipes, doors, and wiring can waste a lot of your money. The first thing you should do is look for leaks and seal them up.

1) Add Weather Stripping- Easy to install and very affordable; weather stripping is a homeowner’s best friend. You can use foam or felt panels to block air from escaping in door frames or caulking for loose windows.

2) Install Door Sweeps- A properly installed door sweep at the bottom of your door will keep out bigger chilly drafts that occur all winter. Simply attach the sweep along the bottom edge with the adhesive included and you’ll create a barrier that keeps your home warm.

3) Seal Your Leaky Attic- You could be wasting as much as $300 dollars every year due to leaks in your attic. Find those leaks and then use caulking for small gaps and expanding foam for bigger gaps. When you’re inspecting your attic, you might want to consult a professional. They will be better able to find hidden or remote leaks.

4) Seal Your Ducts- Another big waste of money occurs when cold air seeps in along ducts. These leaks can also cause dangerous health issues like carbon monoxide poisoning. This is another job that is best left to the professionals. They will have the experience and tools to inspect challeng areas and o a more thorough inspection. These leaks should be sealed up with a specialized metal tape that is more durable than duct tape.

5) Fill Household Leaks- Super inexpensive caulk and foam are great tools to use when sealing up household leaks. Take a walk around your home with a tube of caulking and some gap sealer foam. Seal up cracks and gaps as you walk. If you find bigger or more difficult to reach gaps, make a note of them on your phone. Inside, use a candle to find drafts. Seal these drafts in the same way. Take special care to check any areas where openings occur like vents, plumbing, and electrical fixtures.

6) Close Your Dampers- If you have a fireplace, make a habit of closing your damper after each use. Always wait until after the fireplace has cooled.

Insulation

Now that you’ve sealed up all those leaks, it’s important to add insulation. Proper insulation adds an extra layer of warmth and protection to your home.

7) Inspect and Add Attic Insulation- Make sure you have professional help with the installation process. While insulation is not a cheap improvement, it can save you a lot of money over the season.

8) Cover Your Water Heater- Adding a layer of wrapping can easily help you save on fuel and energy costs. Use a specialized water heater blanket to keep hot water warm longer. Do not use an insulating blanket on pre-insulated models, models that prohibit the use of insulation, or on demand water heaters. While you’re covering your water heater, make sure to lower the temperature. Setting your water heater temperature to a lower degree, like 120 instead of 140, will help lower your energy costs.

9) Cover Hot Water Pipes- In crawl spaces and basements, use foam sleeves to insulate hot water pipes. You can easily purchase these flexible, pre-cut insulation pieces at your local hardware store. They easily snap on your pipes. To prevent burst pipes, also insulate the first three feet of your cold-water pipes.

10) Thermal Curtains- Using thick thermal curtains on your windows is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to further insulate your home.

Thermostat Control

Keeping the temperature inside your home can help further lower costs. You’ll also be more likely to avoid common colds and other winter health issues.

11) Install a Programmable Thermostat- To keep your home temperature regulated, add a programmable thermostat. Instead of using extra energy to keep an empty home warm or using a lot of energy to heat up a cold home, your home’s temperature will stay even.

12) Change the Direction of Your Ceiling Fan Blades-As weather gets colder, be sure to switch your ceiling fan blades to a clockwise direction. This will pull cooler air up and push warmer air down.

Getting your home ready for winter can be a lot of work, especially if you have an older home. The team at Enchanted Construction Services have over 30 years of experience in building homes in our region. We work in the Greenville, Anderson, and Spartanburg, SC area. If you have any other questions about your home, call us at 864-895-0601. We’ll help turn your dreams into a reality.