Winter storms cannot only damage your health but also cause a number of health problems. So, before winter arrives, it is better to make proper preparations. These preparations include buying warm clothes, insulating your home, repairing the cracks, gaps, and holes, and restarting the water and home heating systems.
However, here are some easy tips to prepare your home for winter:
1. Restart the Furnace in Your Home
The most commonly used thing in the winter is the furnace. When the temperature lowers, it starts to produce heat to replenish the lost energy and continues until the temperature reaches a specific assigned level. After this, the furnace stops producing heat. Several things control the heat production and temperature in the furnace.
- Source of fuel
- Heat exchange system
- Heat distribution system
- Supply ductwork
- Return ductwork
Heat is produced through the fuel combustion through the heat exchange system. Then, the heat is transferred to the heat distribution system. There is a blower with a fan. It blows the heat into the pipes that supply ductwork. These are the registers in the rooms. In this way, the whole heating system works in the home.
So, before winter, it is the first thing to check and repair.
2. Water Heating System
In snowy areas, a water heating system is essential in the home. Otherwise, the water will freeze. You should follow the tips given below to keep water warm in the winter:
- Insulate the water tank and pipes to prevent the heat loss from the water.
- Set the temperature higher in the water heater.
- Use a low-flow showerhead.
- Use a water heater blanket to prevent heat transfer.
- Drain and flush your water heater from time to time.
- Invest in a good quality water heater.
In this way, you can control the temperature of water in your home.
3. Insulate the Walls and Roof
You have to check the walls and roof for any cracks or holes. You should fill the gaps in the walls with the bricks and then coat them with paint. Moreover, you can insulate the walls of your home in the following ways:
- Fit insulation boards on the walls.
- Build a stud wall with insulation material inside the main wall.
For flat roofs, you can use spray foams to insulate it. However, there are many other materials, such as fiberglass, glass wool, and cellulose. These are also used for roof insulation purposes.
4. Make the Necessary Repairs
To prepare your home for winter, you have to make the necessary repairs. These repairs may include the following:
- Remove the storm screens from the windows.
- Put a gutter guard on the gutters of the roof and wall sides.
- Do the necessary water heater repair and change the leaked pipes.
- Clean the chimney, fireplace, or woodstove.
- Trim the branches of the trees that can damage the roof.
- Install filter screens on the ventilation holes to block the snow.
Nowadays, there are many professionals who charge for the inspection and repair of homes for winter, so if you have a busy schedule, it’s a good idea to appoint a professional for this purpose.