With the temperatures dropping, is your home winterized, ready for the cold? Here are some last minute things you can do to protect your home. And don’t forget to prepare your pets homes too, or bring them inside. Remember, Pipes, Pets, and Plants for the cold spells.
Walk around your home and check for any possible areas for leakage of cold air into your home. You might need to seal around a window or door. If you have gutters, you will want to make sure they are clean. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house.
Make sure your furnace will light. If not, you will have to put in that service call. Normally at the last minute, the service companies are swamped. If you are using a fireplace, make sure it is cleaned out and you have plenty of wood available.
Reversing your ceiling fan is a small tip that people don’t often think of. By reversing its direction from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. Here’s how you know the fan is ready for winter: As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise.
If you start before the cold gets here, you might want to check into replacing old windows to more efficient ones. Adding additional insulation can help too.
Wrap those pipes outside. If you have a pump house, adding a light or heater can help keep things warmer.
Plants should be covered, brought inside, or put in a greenhouse. When you cover them, make sure it is something heavy and not just a sheet. Winds sure pick up in the hill country.
Pets are very important too. If you can not bring them in, make sure they can get out of the cold. Add a light, small heater, additional bedding if you can.
If you are building a home, think about adding additional items to help with the change of seasons. Additional plugs outside, larger patio areas, green houses, energy efficiency windows, insulation, are just a few items. Talk to your builder. Stay warm!
For ALL Your Real Estate and Building needs or questions, call Debbie at (830) 833-4249 / (713) 818-6658 or debbie@vallonerealestate.net
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