Connecting Houston Home: REAL LIVING: WINTERIZE NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

REAL LIVING: WINTERIZE NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

by Christy Stratton

Speaking of procrastination (See blog GETTING REAL: DO THE WORK), some of us may have yet to winterize our homes. We’re not to the coldest times of the year but we’re in the midst of a pretty cold, cold-snap. It’s better to get it done now as opposed to be sorry later.

Winterizing a home is a fact of real living in a home. And your home and its value will thank you for years to come for the maintenance and care you give it through the seasons.

I did a little online research and gathered these easy and quick tips that you can do before it gets too cold courtesy of the DIY Network, Home-Smart.org, and EnergyStar.gov. Try doing one a day to make the task of winterizing your home a little more manageable. These are only suggestions and thus not guarantees. See the specific websites for more details.

Clean out gutters and down spouts

Cleaning gutters to prevent ice from freezing up. When water can’t drain through, it can seep into the house causing water drips from ceilings and walls.

It’s a good idea to trim trees and remove dead twigs that can break during a winter storm…and crash right into your home, your neighbors, a car, etc.

Make sure the flashing around the chimney or vent pipes are watertight.

Close the fireplace damper when you aren’t using it as it can let in cold air causing drafts. It’s an energy waster too; your heater has to work harder to warm your house if cold air is seeping in.

Drain underground sprinklers, outdoor faucets and garden hoses. Store the hoses inside.

Caulk cracks and stop drafts

Add or replace worn-out weather stripping around doors and windows.

Caulk and patch any cracks or gaps in the siding on your home.

Seal brick exteriors with a high quality masonry sealer to stop any “freeze-thaw” damage.

Use outlet seals to stop air leaks in electrical receptacles and light switches.

Make sure the bottom of your garage door also has a weather strip to seal out drafts.

Seal up air leaks in the attic (and basement for those states with basements).

DYI Network recommends R-30 insulation in the attic. Energy Star recommends R-38. (Insulation levels are specified by R-Value. R-Value is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation.)

Prevent pipes from freezing

Keep the temperature in your home at least 65 degrees to keep pipes from freezing.

Wrap pipes that run along exterior walls with heating tape. Also, turn off the water and drain at inside valves. You can also purchase inexpensive insulated covers for your outside water faucets. These are easy to install and will offer some protection against freezing. (I love these!)