Winterizing Your Home: Checking Insulation, Smoke Detectors and More

There are many things you can do to prepare your home for cold weather and many of these things are easy enough to do in an afternoon by yourself. First, before you begin any winterizing, change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This should be done at least twice a year and make sure to test them as well.

Adding an extra layer of insulation in your attic can make a large difference in your energy bill, especially if you live in an older home. If you live in a mobile home be sure to check the insulation under your home. Make sure that you not only have enough insulation under the mobile home but also that the insulation has not fallen.

While you are checking your insulation be sure to check any exposed pipes you have, especially those under a mobile home. These pipes can be insulated if need be. This will also allow you to find your main shut off valve in case your water to the house needs to be quickly shut off. Be sure that any outside water faucets have been turned off and the hoses attached to them taken off and put up in the garage for the winter.

A large amount of energy can be lost in the cracks and crevices of your home which are commonly found around windows and places where items, such as your cable cords, enter and exit the home. You can check for places in your home where you are losing energy by carrying a lit incense stick around the walls, outlets, and windows. The smoke from the incense will pull toward areas where air is leaking to the outside. This is an easy way to see where you need to apply more caulk or weather stripping. This is a good time to put in storm windows and doors. Loss of energy can also be had in the cracks around window air conditioners and these AC units need to be taken out for the winter season.

Make sure that your roof and gutters are clear of any debris and damage as well as check the area around your home for damage that may need to be fixed before the cold sets in.

Outside items need to be winterized also such as draining gas from the lawnmowers and putting away all the pool and summer gardening equipment.

Some items on your Winterize Checklist need to be done by a professional. Have someone come out and check your furnace and your chimney, this can save you a lot of heartache this winter and will make your home much safer.

Finally, make sure you have salt or sand. These add weight to the back end of your vehicle and help keep you from slipping on ice. Keep an emergency kit in your home and in your car. Your emergency kits should contain blankets, a first aid kit, bottled water and non-perishable food for you and your pets. Keep candles handy and a flashlight with new batteries in each room. You can also keep the kind of flashlights that wind up in case you cannot find batteries or your batteries go out.

Preparing your home for cold weather can not only save you money but it is also good for the environment and can make for an easier time if your family does find itself in an emergency.