Winter is coming and it's time to prepare your home for the colder months. I have five tips to share with you that will save you time, money, and hassle in your home this winter.
There are a variety of opportunities in the Central Pennsylvania real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.
Fall is coming to a close and it's time to prepare your home for the winter. I have some steps to help lower your utility bills and protect your property during the cold months that I wanted to share with you today.
- Tune up your heating system. For about $100, a technician will inspect your furnace or heat pump to ensure it's clean and able to achieve its intended efficiency. Look for a technician who belongs to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America.
- Reverse your ceiling fans. If your fans have a reverse switch, turn it to clockwise for an updraft that will push warmer air down from the ceiling. This is especially helpful for those with high ceilings, and it may even allow you to turn the thermostat down a degree or two. It also gives you a chance to dust those ceiling fans.
- Check for places where heat may escape, like windows and doors. If gaps between the siding and the window/door frames are wider than a nickel, you need to apply exterior caulk. Silicon caulk is best for exteriors because it won't shrink or be affected by the elements. Check the window glazing putty and reapply if needed. Finally, add weather stripping around doors so that you can't see any daylight from the inside of your house.
Icicles and ice dams can cause long-term damage all over your home. - Look at the roof closely for damaged, loose, or missing shingles that could leak during winter storms or melt off. You also want to fix or replace breaks in the flashing around vent stacks and chimneys. Hire a handyman or roofer to repair shingles or roof sections, because these fixes are cheaper and less hassle than repairing interior water damage. If you've had a lot of icicles or ice dams, call a home energy auditor who can fix air leaks and inadequate insulation.
- Check your gutters. If they're full of leaves, water will back up against the house and damage roofing, siding, and gutters, causing leaks and ice dams all over the house. Also, make sure water isn't draining from the gutters directly next to your foundation. Add extensions to your downspout to divert water four feet away from the foundation. This is a cheap and easy fix!
Next time, we'll be back with more tips. In the meantime, if you have any questions or you're thinking of buying or selling a home, give us a call or send us an email. We'd love to hear from you!
