Once autumn hits, you will want to start winterizing your home. It always sneaks up on you faster than you think and its best to be prepared. There are many different ways to stay safe and warm and also save money by getting ready for the cold weather ahead of time. Here are a few.

Clean Your Gutters

Remove dirt, leaves and debris from your gutters and rinse them out well with a hose so icy rain and melting snow can drain easily. If your gutters clog, ice dams can form freeze and cause water to leak into your home. During the time you hose out your gutters, check for leaks and repair them to avoid flooding and other water damage.

Block the Leaks

To prevent flooding of your basement  make sure you have a water powered sump pump to help prevent any water from flooding your basement when heavy rain comes or from melting snow.

The average American home has leaks that amount to a nine – square – foot hole in the wall! You can find the leaks on a breezy day by taking a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas like windows and doors frames and electrical outlets. Then block up the leaks with caulk and use door sweeps under exterior doors. Even small cracks need to be blocked up. This even prevents insects from entering! Don’t forget to put up the storm windows and have the chimney inspected periodically.

Insulation

Adding insulation can be expensive but it saves you so much money in the long run. You need a minimum of a foot of insulation in your attic. To make sure there is at least one foot of insulation, you can go in the attic. If you see the ceiling joists, you do not have enough insulation because ceiling joists are ten to eleven inches at most. Be sure not to use insulation with the paper backing if you are going over insulation. It can cause moisture problems.

Check the Furnace

First of all, you need to make sure your furnace is working by turning it on. You should be able to smell it, like a temporary burning smell. If the smell lasts a long time, shut it off and call a professional. Clean and tune your furnace every year. Check your furnace filters monthly. A dirty filter restricts air flow and in some extreme cases, can even start a fire. Fiberglass filters need to be tossed out and replaced while electronic filters can be washed and reused.

Check Your Ducts

Homes with central heating can lose up to 60% of the heated air before it reaches the vents. Which is a huge waste of money and you end up with a chilly home. Ducts aren’t always easy to find but you can usually find them in the attic, basement and crawl spaces. Repair pinches in pipes and fix gaps with a tape that is metal backed, not duct tape. Ducts should also be vacuumed periodically to get out any dust and gunk that may be gathered.

Author Bio:

If you are looking for someone to help you winterize your home, contact Service Star at www.servicestarac.com. Service Star is a customer focused company that wants to be your first call every time for taking care of your home.