It’s late December, and we (fortunately) haven’t really had a bad snowstorm yet here in Central Iowa. That makes it a great time to make all necessary preparations to be ready for the snow that will most likely hit us at some point this winter. Below are several steps you can take around the house to prepare for dipping temperatures and heavy snowfall. It’s always better to go out of the way now to prep your house than get caught off guard in the midst of a blizzard.
1. Weatherproof Your Home
Weatherize your doors and windows by caulking and weatherstripping around them. This will help prevent drafts from sweeping into the house and keep the heat inside where it belongs. You will increase your home's energy efficiency and save money on heating costs over the winter. You could also do a thorough sweep through your home to check for any other places that could be allowing cold air into the house. Good areas to check include electrical outlets, the fireplace and chimney, cables, air vents, and the attic entrance. It is very important that your attic is properly insulated, both in the floor and at the roof. Since warm air rises, this could be the primary place that heat escapes from your home. When warm air reaches the attic, many problems may follow, such as the formation of ice dams, condensation that leads to leaks in the home, and water damage.
2. Insulate Your Home
Prevent ice dams, leaks, and water damage by insulating your home. You should make sure your attic floor is well insulated. The installation of high quality insulation comes with many advantages. Blown-in insulation is a perfect choice for attics. This type of insulation provides a buffer against noise and any outside elements. It will help in the prevention of ice dams by keeping the warm air inside the home away from the roof. Blown-in insulation is made from recycled materials and is moisture- and mold-resistant. Insulation rebates are available from many Central Iowa utility companies.
Insulate your water pipes that are exposed to the cold, such as those that run along the exterior of your home, through your attic, or in any other areas of your home that aren’t well insulated and heated. You can purchase insulated sleeves at a home improvement store to cover pipes and prevent freezing. If you leave home during the winter, be sure to set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees. This will keep pipes from succumbing to damage in the event of sub-freezing temperatures during your absence. You can also leave a faucet set to drip continuously when you’re gone so the water is never left at a complete standstill in the pipes. This is a particularly useful tactic for faucets that are connected to pipes that run through unheated zones of the house.
3. Have Your Chimney Inspected
Your chimney should be inspected and cleaned at least once every year. The creosote that builds up over time is a fire hazard and so must be removed regularly. Many believe they only need to have their chimney inspected if they burn wood in the fireplace. This is incorrect. Most heating systems rely on a chimney to ventilate gases (such as carbon monoxide) safely out of and away from the home. This also goes for appliances that burn gas, oil, coal, or wood.
4. Have Your Furnace Inspected
Your furnace should be inspected by a professional at least once (if not twice) every year. You should also change your filter every one to three months to keep the air in your home clean and filtered. By skipping regular furnace inspections, you will be putting everyone in your home at risk in a number of ways. First, because a dirty furnace is a safety risk, it is important to have it cleaned regularly. Dirt and debris can build up and pose a fire hazard. Second, if your unit isn’t inspected annually, it won’t perform as efficiently as possible. It will have to work harder to produce the same results (keeping the temperature where you want it to be), which will exact a toll on both the furnace's lifespan and your energy bills. Finally, furnace inspections provide the opportunity for regular carbon monoxide (CO)-level checks. An excess of CO in the home can make you and your family members very ill and, in dire cases, can cause death. If your furnace is over 15 years of age, be prepared for the news that you should begin shopping around for a new unit to replace your current one in the near future.
Final Tips:
Make sure you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home. Test the batteries regularly, and replace them twice every year.
Check out some of our Owens Corning insulation products or choose from a variety of our quality window products from brands like Ply Gem Windows, Marvin Windows, Velux, and Hurd. Hedrick Construction is conveniently located in Huxley, Iowa and proudly serves Ames, Ankeny, Story County, and the surrounding areas.
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