Winter is almost here! Is your home ready to tackle the cold months ahead? Here are a few winter home maintenance ideas that you may have forgotten about.
Weatherproof your doors and windows. It's important to get ahead of the winter weather and make sure your home is ready to handle the cold to come. Check your doors and windows closely for gaps and areas that may cause a draft. Use weatherstripping or caulk to seal them up, or consider replacing the windows or doors if the problem is severe enough.
Clean your dryer hose. Clogged dryer hoses pose huge fire hazards. Prevent house fires by cleaning your lint filter, emptying or replacing your dryer hose, and regularly checking the vent and exhaust.
Reverse your fans. Turning your fans clockwise is a secret to saving money on heat in the winter since it will stop the warm air from rising and keep it down where you want it to be. Most ceiling fans have a switch that you can simply flip to reverse it—if the switch is not easily accessible on the outside of the fan, it may be somewhere inside.
Get an annual fireplace inspection and chimney sweep. Similar to dryer hoses, clogged chimneys lead to house fires, but they can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Having a yearly inspection and chimney sweep may cost you money, but it could also save your life. Additionally, make sure the flue on your chimney is fully functional so when the fireplace is not in use, you don't experience drafts.
Keep the heat on. Always keep the heat on. Even when you go away. By doing so you can keep your pipes warm and prevent them from freezing, while also saving money on having your heating system work extra hard when you return to bring the house back up to room temperature. Updating your thermostat (if you haven't already) to a programmable version so you can set the house for one temp when you're home, and another for when you're away.
Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/
