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Winter is coming, bringing shorter days, colder temperatures, and more time spent indoors. Colorado winters can be hard on your home, but with a little effort now you can make your home more comfortable, energy efficient, and safe in the cold months to come. Check out these eight important winterizing tips for your home.
1. Change the furnace filter and schedule annual maintenance.
These are the two simplest ways to keep your furnace running at peak performance and optimal efficiency throughout the coldest months of the year. Schedule annual maintenance and purchase enough replacement filters to last through the winter, allowing for a filter change every 30-60 days, as needed. These preventive measures help avoid inconvenient and expensive repairs, saving you money on energy bills and extending the life of your home’s HVAC system. Keep in mind that some manufacturers require professional annual maintenance to keep the warranty in force.
2. Clean out gutters (remove leaves and debris).
Prevent serious water and ice problems–not to mention costly repairs or even long-term damage–by making sure your home’s gutters are clean and clear before winter hits. Remove leaves, pine needles and any other debris. Clean gutters not only look more attractive, but also help direct melting snow away from the home, permitting excess water to flow freely and properly.
3. Check for cracks and leaks.
Drafts and air leaks in your home cause the furnace to run more than necessary in order to provide adequate heat, which increases energy costs and creates extra wear and tear on the system. Use weather stripping and caulk to seal leaks around windows and doors.
4. Trim encroaching tree branches.
Trimming back tree branches that are close to the sides of your home protects tree limbs from breaking under heavy snow or in high winds. Fallen branches can cause extensive damage to both home and yard.
5. Cover or store outdoor furniture.
Protect outdoor furniture from the harsh winter elements by using either waterproof covers or by storing in the garage or shed. Doing so extends the life and usefulness of the furniture.
6. Run fans in reverse.
Clockwise rotation draws the heat from the ceiling down to the living area, making the room warmer. This helps the furnace work more efficiently, thereby extending the life of the system. (The fan direction is determined as you are looking up at the fan blades.)
7. Winterize the A/C (or swamp cooler) unit.
Turn off the air conditioner water shutoff valve and drain the hoses and air conditioner pipes. Remove any water that has pooled or collected in the equipment.
8. Drain outdoor hoses.
Drain garden hoses and stow them for the winter so they don’t freeze and break. Turn off outdoor water valves.
