Prepare your home for cooler temperatures.
Now that Douglas County has begun to experience the colder side of fall, many have wondered what they can do to prepare their home for the fall and winter season. Even many animals prepare in advance for the cold months, so it makes sense that we would prepare our homes for the frigid temperature yet to come.
As we mentioned over the previous few weeks – fire safety is of highest concern. So the first place you should start when preparing your home for winter, is having your fireplace, or wood-burning stove inspected. You can ask for recommendations from your local fire department or you can look up chimney cleaners in the phonebook or internet search engine. You will also need to make sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed.
It is important to have your heating system inspected now before the really cold temperatures hit. A qualified technician will be able to spot any potential problems in your heating equipment. Fixing these now will prevent you from having to deal with a break down in the middle of a cold winter.
Weatherizing your home now, will save you the headache of doing it near freezing temperatures. If your attic is poorly insulated, add more insulation to keep all of your warm, heated air from escaping your home. Caulking and weather-stripping around doors and windows will also work to prevent your warm air from leaking out. Not only will this help to keep the inside of your house warm, you will also see a reduction on your heating bill, which is always a good thing.
If you have water lines that run along exterior walls, it may be a good idea to insulate them to prevent freezing. Because our temperatures can plummet very quickly, it is not unheard of for water pipes to burst due to freezing. Educate yourself on how to shut the water supply off in unfortunate occurrence of a burst pipe.
Preparing your home for winter now, before the freezing cold arrives, will not only save you money, but will create a warm, comfortable environment for your family. If you have not had your heating system checked and tuned up by a licensed professional, give us a call at 770-942-2873. One of our qualified technicians will be sure that your system does not give you any problems this winter season. For more valuable tips and advice, join us on our Facebook page.