For my friends and readers in the other side of the world, I know it's getting cold outside, so it's time to start battening down the hatches and preparing for chilly evenings. Not only will these steps protect your property from damage, but they'll also keep you and your family warm throughout the winter!
1. Invest in Caulk
Caulk will be your best friend when you need to seal up the cracks in your walls and window frames. In addition to being relatively cheap to buy, it's also extremely easy to use. You don't have to be any sort of handyman at all. Just point and squeeze, and the crack will disappear under the caulk's protective barrier. That's all it takes.
2. Test Your HVAC System
You don't want to wake up on a cold morning without hot water. You don't want your furnace to give out in the middle of a blizzard, either. Call in a professional to help you inspect and evaluate your HVAC system. You might wind up needing something like water heater repair Gloucester VA.
3. Reverse Your Fans
Ceiling fans that are running in a clockwise direction will push heat from the upper atmosphere down towards the floor. You'll hate this in the summer, but in the winter, it can be an extra source of warmth without having to crank up the thermostat. Check to see if your ceiling fans are running in the right direction.
4. Replace Your Filters
If you haven't changed the filters in your heating and cooling systems in awhile, your machines probably aren't running as effectively as they could be. It might even be raising your energy bills as your HVAC system overcompensates for its clogged filters. Take a look at them and see if they're covered in dust. If the answer is yes, it's worth the investment of some new filters to get your HVAC system in top working order.
These are just a few ways to prepare your home for winter. If you start today, you can avoid slipping, falling and freezing as you attempt to do maintenance work in the middle of a snowstorm!
