Time to Tackle Home Winterization

Get your home ready for snow and cold now

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Your fuzzy sweaters may be in storage for a while, but it’s time to get those repairs and other tasks scheduled.

Contractors appreciate timing jobs for when the weather is nice. It’s also helpful for them for planning their work rather than receiving dozens of “emergency” calls once the snow flies. Especially pertinent are winterization tasks to keep your home energy efficient and cozy for the season and ensure that winter weather won’t damage your home.

Gutters on your roof serve an important role: keeping precipitation away from your foundation.

“Get the gutters repaired and cleaned; get the leaves out,” said Jared Raffa, owner of Raffa Remodeling in Oswego.

In addition, Raffa recommends that homeowners “clean up the landscaping. Make sure any drainage systems in the yard are flowing freely. Anytime you can, make sure the ground is pitched away from the house.”

Your home can feel drafty for many reasons. According to www.energystar.gov, a well-insulated home without air leaks can save homeowners 10% on their energy bills. Insulating homes doesn’t mean tearing up your house. Blowing insulation into walls uses a minimally invasive system to properly insulate.

Replacement windows can reduce drafts. They start at about $150 each and can save about 12% on your energy bills.

In addition to preventing water damage, replacing or repairing the roof can keep your home better insulated. And there’s no time like the present to have roof work done.

“Make sure you don’t have any missing shingles or things that ice dams can get up underneath,” Raffa said. “Close up any gaps around the foundation.”

Tim Shattuck, soon-to-be-retired owner of Shattuck Remodeling & Home Repair in Syracuse, encourages homeowners to get caulking done around doors and windows, common areas that experience air leaks.

“It’s important to get done because you can’t paint when it gets too cold and caulk won’t cure,” he said. “Weather stripping is important to get done so your heat won’t go right out the window and door. It will help your utility bills.

“If you have cracked or broken windowpanes or storm windows missing, get those replaced now before winter.”

Waiting until cold weather to have your furnace serviced is risky. Have a pro check out the furnace and also the hot water heater so these appliances will run more efficiently, saving you energy costs.

According to www.energystar.gov, the average household spends $2,000 on energy with about half of that going toward heating and cooling costs.

 

Do It Yourself

A few DIY projects and strategies can help your home stay warmer this winter—no handyman skills or tools required.

• Just before it turns cold, seal windows on the inside with plastic. The budget-friendly kits are readily available at hardware or general merchandise stores and are easy to install.

• Test areas around windows and doors to find air leaks by having someone else inside feel for air as you blast it from the outside with a can of compressed air (look for it among office supplies). Caulk around window and doorframes. Buy a few draft blockers. Some are rubbery and permanently installed for frequently used doors. For seldom used doors, the stuffed type provides a decorative touch.

• Close off spare bedrooms and close the vents so you’re not heating space no one uses regularly.

• Clean your heat vents before you turn on your furnace.

• Set ceiling fans to clockwise mode to push warm air down.