Ten Ways to Winterize Your Home

Before winter arrives, it's a good idea to make a checklist to get your home ready for the colder weather. Here are some tips for your checklist:

• Clean those gutters- Remove leaves and any other debris from your home's gutters. Clogged drains can form dams in which water backs up, freezes, and causes water to seep into the house. Look for leaks and misaligned pipes as you're hosing out your gutters.
• Block those leaks-Experts say one of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out. According to EarthWorks Group, the average American home has leaks that amount to a nine square-foot hole in the wall!
• Insulate yourself- Add to the existing insulation in your attic. You need a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic.
• Check the furnace- Before the coldest weather descends, turn your furnace on now to make sure it's even working. When firing up the furnace in the autumn, a strong, odd, brief smell is natural. It's a good idea to have furnaces cleaned and tuned annually by a professional. You should change the furnace filters regularly (check them monthly) throughout the winter.
• Check your ducts-A home with central heating can lose up to 60% of heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Face you window- Storm windows provide an extra layer of protection and warmth for the home. If you have old, single-pane glass windows, storm windows are particularly helpful.
• Don't forget your chimney- Each year, a chimney should be inspected and cleaned before use.
• Reverse fans- 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 re-circulate, keeping you more comfortable.
• Wrap pipes- A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze can cause a lot of damage. Make certain that all the lines are drained, and that the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house before freezing nights hit.
• Finally, check your alarms- Check you alarms to make sure they are working, and change the batteries on all smoke detectors. Fire officials say that detectors should be replaced every 10 years.

Call Susan Moore & Associates at 847-279-8444 for more winterizing tips for both your home and car. And why not take that opportunity to schedule an annual review of your insurance to make sure you're adequately protected on that front, as well.