{"id":834,"date":"2019-11-20T10:49:21","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T15:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehomeownershelper.com\/?p=834"},"modified":"2019-11-20T10:49:23","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T15:49:23","slug":"tips-for-winterizing-your-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehomeownershelper.com\/tips-for-winterizing-your-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips For Winterizing Your Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In addition to wrapping pipes and properly preparing plumbing for winter temperatures, homeowners can let certain spigots and faucets drip to keep the pipes from freezing.

The imminent arrival of cold weather means homeowners should take precautions to stay comfortable, reduce fire hazards and avoid unnecessary expenses, including broken pipes or excessive heating bills.

Frank Davies, manager of Little Hardware in Mountain Brook, and Chief Leland Rhudy, fire marshal with the Mountain Brook Fire Department, offer some helpful tips. [Mountain Brook is a suburban community near Birmingham Alabama]

Of course, consumers like to hold down heating bills, and Davies offered suggestions.

Check doors and windows to prevent air leaks. \u201cThere\u2019s simple, self-adhesive weather stripping that can take care of most of that,\u201d Davies said.
Removable seal-and-peel caulk is also available to seal windows. \u201cIn the springtime you can peel off the caulk and open the windows right up,\u201d Davies said. Another option is to use window insulation kits with clear, shrink-to-fit plastic film. 

Some online sources suggest installing storm doors and windows.
Homeowners should also protect their pipes in a hard freeze, especially one accompanied by a power outage, according to Davies. Consumers can protect pipes with foam-tube insulation, which can be cut and wrapped around the pipe, according to Davies. 

There are also heating cables with thermostats that keep pipes warm when temperatures drop below freezing, said Davies.

One trick to keep pipes from freezing, especially if they\u2019re exposed in a basement or unheated area, is to let water drip, Davies said.

People should also insulate outdoor spigots with pre-packaged styrofoam insulator cups that fit over the faucet and retain warmth from the house.
Homeowners should winterize outdoor sprinkler systems. \u201cThey need to be shut off and drained,\u201d Davies said.

Davies also offered suggestions for people with second or lake homes, especially those that will be closed for the winter.

\u201cThey can shut the water off at the street and drain the water out of the house on the lowest level or from an outside faucet,\u201d he said.

If the power is still on, owners can leave the heat set at about 50 degrees to keep the house from getting too cold.

Owners can put RV antifreeze in toilets. \u201cThey can freeze and burst,\u201d Davies said of the bathroom plumbing.

Any power equipment with small gasoline engines, including boats and jet skis, should be winterized, too. It\u2019s best to drain the fuel, but if that isn\u2019t possible, a fuel stabilizer can be added to make sure the gasoline doesn\u2019t go bad, Davies said.

Chief Rhudy offers safety tips to reduce the risk of fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.

People should properly maintain carbon monoxide detectors, which should be installed outside of each bedroom and on each level of the home. Homeowners should have their central air and heat or floor furnaces inspected regularly by a licensed technician, according to Rhudy.

People should also \u201cchange their furnace filters, if they are not in the habit of doing it on a monthly basis or a regular basis,\u201d Davies said. \u201cIt\u2019s important for your system to work efficiently.\u201d
Portable generators used during power outages can cause problems with carbon monoxide, according to Rhudy.

Generators should be set up outside, at least 10 to 15 feet away from the house and away from doors and windows, he said. And heavy-duty extension cords should be used with generators.

Consumers should be careful using space heaters, according to Rhudy. It\u2019s best for small heaters to have an automatic shut-off and be approved by a testing laboratory. 

Homeowners with wood-burning fireplaces should have them inspected by a professional chimney sweep, according to Rhudy.

\u201cOver time, creosote will build up on the walls of the chimney and could potentially catch fire,\u201d he said. 

An inspection can also reveal cracked or broken brick, he said.
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In addition to wrapping pipes and properly preparing plumbing for winter temperatures, homeowners can let certain spigots and faucets drip to keep the pipes from freezing. The imminent arrival of cold weather means homeowners should take precautions to stay comfortable, reduce fire hazards and avoid unnecessary expenses, including broken pipes or excessive heating bills. Frank Davies, manager of Little Hardware in Mountain Brook, and Chief Leland Rhudy, fire marshal with the Mountain Brook Fire Department, offer some helpful tips. [Mountain Brook is a suburban community near Birmingham Alabama] Of course, consumers like to hold down heating bills, and Davies offered suggestions. Check doors and windows to prevent air leaks. \u201cThere\u2019s simple, self-adhesive weather stripping that can take care of most of that,\u201d Davies said. Removable…<\/p>\n

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