Winterizing Your Home

When the temperature begins to drop, consider these maintenance and end-of-season tasks that will help you winterize your home and protect your property.

1.) Insulate pipes: Frozen pipes can cause costly damage, so insulate exposed pipes, especially in basements, attics, and crawl spaces. You can also consider installing heat tape to prevent freezing.

2.) Check your heating system: Have a qualified HVAC technician inspect your furnace or boiler to clean the system, replace filters, and make sure it's operating efficiently.

3.) Reverse ceiling fans: In the winter, reverse your ceiling fans to create a gentle updraft and recirculate heat down.

4.) Assess your chimney: Check the health of your chimney, which is exposed to high winds, frost, and snow.

5.) Check carbon monoxide detectors: Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and replace batteries as needed.

6.) Clean your gutters: Clean your gutters to ensure that water from rain and melting snow or ice flows away from your house.

7.) Check for air gaps: Check for air gaps and seal them.

8.) Inspect and clean your dryer vents: Inspect and clean your dryer vents.